enjoy -honeebee
Tunis Brady
Placed: July 6, 2004
Location ??? somewhere in upper bucks county

Bucks County News - Headline January 20, 1922 Wild Cat caught in
Tinicum Twp. Rare Animal, Suppose to be Nearly Extinct, Trapped by 16
year old Lad.

Tunis Brady 16 year old son of Joseph, on Cook premises, on the edge
of the State Auxiliary game preserve in the tinicum boulder field is
where this lad trapped his fame.

If it was true. This capture is said to be the only authenticated
taking of a wild cat anywhere in the county said Game Protector
Warren Fetz. But he wanted to see it with his own eyes he followed
the well-marked trail and passed the boulder field on the left and
continued down the rock-strewn trail.
For three years residents have known of some strange wild creature,
which uttered an "unearthly" yell at night. So terrifying most people
didn't go outside after dark.
Young Brady tracked two animals passed some huge rocks. He mentioned
they had sprung the traps three times without getting caught. They
continued on as Tunis explained that the male was securely caught
with one hind foot in the trap and that he had attempted to kill it
with a club, but the animal put up such a fight that the boy feared
he would break free of the trap so he procured a rifle and shot the
animal in the head. He believed his female companion was not far
watching him from the streams edge in the rocks.
They crossed a large rock bed where water flows and followed a thin
trail to the left.
Just down a root-strewn trail to the right in a pile of rocks he saw
the "trap" Fetz took out a notepad he had carried with him and began
to document the animal. The cat had powerful claws and teeth, and it
heads is large in proportion to its body. It apparently has not an
ounce of surplus flesh, being sinewy and wiry, and yet weighs eight
and a half pounds. Its body length is 20 inches and it stands 13
inches high. Its front legs are seven inches long and its back legs
are 13 inches long. Its fur was a sandy gray, with some yellow and
buff color, but particularly noticeable is the dark line that runs
from the shoulder down the spine to the end of the tail. The top of
its head is black and its white and bristly feelers were stiff and
rather abundant.
The capture of the Nockamixon wild cat is most likely to cause a stir
in scientific circles, because of the rarity of the incident. The
carcass will be in the possession of the Game Protector and will be
exhibited at the Bucks County Fish, Game and Forestry Association
meeting. My favorite part of this true story is that Miss Elizabeth
C. Cox of Holicong writes an article to appear in the following
paper. "Species Not So Nearly Extinct as Many Naturalists Think. Its
Habits are Nocturnal". She refers to the Philadelphia Zoo were a
species called the "Indian Devil" a cat smaller than a bobcat yet
still very wild was kept in captivity. She mentions that at night she
carries a pistol as protection against such cats, she also warns if
you have meat in your carriage to throw the meat to it and get away
as quickly as possible. She says these cats are by no means uncommon
here; just simple nocturnal. Miss Cox is a most careful investigator
and a most conscientious naturalist in Bucks County, and hoped that
other naturalist make similar inquires. Love the fact that it was a
woman who figured this out.
My question now where is this stuffed wildcat today??