US Politics | Inside myth of elephant-sized ‘demon cat’ seen at US Capitol before national emergencies for over 100 years
IT is a ghost story that dates back more than 100 years and continues to leave people spooked. Legend suggests that a cat, supposedly the size of an elephant, has prowled inside the US Capitol building in Washington DC for centuries. 
GettyLegend suggests that a cat has been prowling the corridors of the Capitol building for centuries '/ ' And, the beast, thought to be either tabby or black, has been claimed to make sporadic appearances before national emergencies such as the 1929 Wall Street crash. It was also reportedly seen decades later before JFK's assassination in November 1963. The legendary tale seems to have survived administrations from Democrat to Republican but remains shrouded in mystery still to this day. Steve Livengood, of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, told Atlas Obscura, that the mystery is "probably the most common of all the ghost stories" in the Capitol. read more ghost stories 
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HELL-OWEEN I spent night at haunted orphanage that scares ghost hunters - it was terrifying The story seems to date back to 1862 during the US Civil War, according to the White House Historical Association. A cat was spotted in the basement of the Capitol building which was being used as a bakery to feed soldiers during the conflict. It's believed an armed officer opened fire at the animal before it quickly vanished. Decades later, a gas explosion rocked the Capitol building in 1898. Most read in The US Sun 'INDESCRIBABLE LOSS' US students, 20, named among 153 killed in Seoul Halloween crush 'THE NICEST' Amanda Knox & ex reunite 15 years after arrest for Meredith Kercher murder HORROR FIND Missing woman found dead days after sending chilling final text to boyfriend TIME WARP Eerie 1938 footage 'proves' time travellers exist can you spot 'quantum leaper'? MAMA DRAMA Teen Mom fans in shock after Ashley Jones 'leaks phone call' with Amber Portwood NAME SHAME I know my kids will get bullied for their names but I'm going with them anyway Wet concrete was used to replace some of the stone that was damaged. Livengood said that it's "possible" a cat may have walked over the wet substance, leaving its paw prints as evidence. The letters ...DC... have been seen carved on a slab of concrete. It's thought that the initials refer to ...Demon Cat.... A Washington Post report from 1898 said: "After many years of absence, this is truly a horrific apparition." The article from the time claimed that the animal "swelled up" to the size of an elephant. The sheer size of the cat left witnesses terrified, according to The Post. In 1935, a Capitol Police cop claimed the cat grew as he looked at it. One account described the animal as just an "ordinary tabby" before it ballooned rapidly. ...EYES GLOWED WITH FEROCITY' And, an eye-witness account said: "For the novelty of the thing, the eyes of this elephantine alley trouper are supposed to glow with all the hue and ferocity of the headlights of a fire engine entering one of Washington's notoriously dark alleys." Cats often combed the Capitol as they hunted mice and rats. Livengood speculated that drunk nightwatchmen may have imagined being licked by a cat that they thought was huge. But, cops were often left shellshocked by what they had seen. Researcher Anthony Wallis told The Hill: "A lot of Capitol Police swear they see and hear things. "And it doesn't surprise me. The Capitol is a really old building. "There's been people who have been shot in the building and it's been 'a ' pretty violent place over history." Alleged sightings were reported before the Wall Street Crash and JFK's assassination. But, the feline hasn't been seen since, sparking further mystery. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted that she said the Capitol building "sometimes feels haunted". While, ex-congressman José Serrano told The Hill that he felt a "presence" in the room on occasions. Read More on The US Sun 
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GettyLegend suggests that a cat has been prowling the corridors of the Capitol building for centuries '/ ' And, the beast, thought to be either tabby or black, has been claimed to make sporadic appearances before national emergencies such as the 1929 Wall Street crash. It was also reportedly seen decades later before JFK's assassination in November 1963. The legendary tale seems to have survived administrations from Democrat to Republican but remains shrouded in mystery still to this day. Steve Livengood, of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, told Atlas Obscura, that the mystery is "probably the most common of all the ghost stories" in the Capitol. read more ghost stories CROWN GHOULS Inside the most haunted Royal castle where ghostly footsteps echo in the halls HELL-OWEEN I spent night at haunted orphanage that scares ghost hunters - it was terrifying The story seems to date back to 1862 during the US Civil War, according to the White House Historical Association. A cat was spotted in the basement of the Capitol building which was being used as a bakery to feed soldiers during the conflict. It's believed an armed officer opened fire at the animal before it quickly vanished. Decades later, a gas explosion rocked the Capitol building in 1898. Most read in The US Sun 'INDESCRIBABLE LOSS' US students, 20, named among 153 killed in Seoul Halloween crush 'THE NICEST' Amanda Knox & ex reunite 15 years after arrest for Meredith Kercher murder HORROR FIND Missing woman found dead days after sending chilling final text to boyfriend TIME WARP Eerie 1938 footage 'proves' time travellers exist can you spot 'quantum leaper'? MAMA DRAMA Teen Mom fans in shock after Ashley Jones 'leaks phone call' with Amber Portwood NAME SHAME I know my kids will get bullied for their names but I'm going with them anyway Wet concrete was used to replace some of the stone that was damaged. Livengood said that it's "possible" a cat may have walked over the wet substance, leaving its paw prints as evidence. The letters ...DC... have been seen carved on a slab of concrete. It's thought that the initials refer to ...Demon Cat.... A Washington Post report from 1898 said: "After many years of absence, this is truly a horrific apparition." The article from the time claimed that the animal "swelled up" to the size of an elephant. The sheer size of the cat left witnesses terrified, according to The Post. In 1935, a Capitol Police cop claimed the cat grew as he looked at it. One account described the animal as just an "ordinary tabby" before it ballooned rapidly. ...EYES GLOWED WITH FEROCITY' And, an eye-witness account said: "For the novelty of the thing, the eyes of this elephantine alley trouper are supposed to glow with all the hue and ferocity of the headlights of a fire engine entering one of Washington's notoriously dark alleys." Cats often combed the Capitol as they hunted mice and rats. Livengood speculated that drunk nightwatchmen may have imagined being licked by a cat that they thought was huge. But, cops were often left shellshocked by what they had seen. Researcher Anthony Wallis told The Hill: "A lot of Capitol Police swear they see and hear things. "And it doesn't surprise me. The Capitol is a really old building. "There's been people who have been shot in the building and it's been 'a ' pretty violent place over history." Alleged sightings were reported before the Wall Street Crash and JFK's assassination. But, the feline hasn't been seen since, sparking further mystery. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted that she said the Capitol building "sometimes feels haunted". While, ex-congressman José Serrano told The Hill that he felt a "presence" in the room on occasions. Read More on The US Sun DECISION TIME Decision over Serena Williams' stepmother fight for childhood home days away JINGER'S RISK Jinger risks parents 'shunning' her after she exposes secrets in tell-all And, Senator Patrick Leahy said: "In my old hideaway we had ghosts. "We had a 300-pound table that we'd come in and find in different parts of the room that we hadn't left it in — it had moved around by itself about every two or three months."
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