The steel works of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company at Scranton have the reputation of being well managed, and as free from accident as any similar establishment in the United States, but for all that the mill is not free from superstitious. While visiting the works a few evenings ago, and watching the glow of the gleaming steel as it passed through the various processes from the river of fire flowing into the cuverters to the white, snake-like bar that ran, a finished rail, under the saw, an accident occured which at once startled and amused me. A group of perspiring workmen, with weapons of various kinds in their hands, and their faces wearing an expression of awe, rushed past me explaining: “Their she goes!”
    Some of them flung pieces of iron and slag at a retreating object that ran rapidly through the mill and out at a distant door. At first I thought some great accident had occurred. The men seemed very much frightened, and seemed disapointed when the object of their attention had escaped. I asked the cause of their commotion.
    “Why, didn’t you see it?” said one. “It was that black cat again!”
    My curiousity being excited, I asked one of the foreman for an explanation. “It seems odd,” he said, ” and I know some persons will laugh at us, but I tell you that black cat is an omen of evil for this establishment. Every time we are about to have a big accident she enters that door and runs from one end of the works to the other. At first we took no notice of her but finally her visits became regular as clock work whenever anything serious was about to occur, and the men began to take warning from her and neglected their work when she came. They noticed that she never halted in the mill, but ran from end to end of it like a streak of lightning. That’s why you saw us so anxious to kill her. The foremen wish to get her out of the way, as her visits are so demoralizing to the workmen, and the fact that she seems to lead a charmed life and get away every time unhurt, rather strengthens the superstition concernining her.”-Scranton [Pa.] Letter.
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