In autumn 1911, the Tumbling Run valley in Pennsylvania was afflicted by a curse in the shape of a black cat.  This is a story of misfortune, the supernatural, black cats in cages, and arson. 

Part of the Straight Up Strange Network: https://www.straightupstrange.com/

My Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/forgdark/

Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Closing music by Soma.

SOURCES

“After a witchcat.” Indiana Weekly Messenger, May 22, 1912.

“Alleged hex cat captured.” Pottsville Republican, September 30, 1911.

“Another runaway attributed to hex.” Pottsville Republican, October 3, 1911.

“Ask that hex cat be forgotten.” Pottsville Republican, November 2, 1911.

“Bad crops laid to Mary's witch cat.” Adams County Independent, October 21, 1911.

“Called sister witch.” Lancaster Inquirer, September 30, 1911.

“Death by hex, many other calamities.” Pottsville Republican, September 22, 1911.

“Hex cat dodges bullet of gold.” Pottsville Republican and Herald, September 28, 1911.

“Hex cat fails to turn up to be shot with a gold bullet.” New Castle Herald, October 6, 1911.

“Hex cat man is frozen to death.” Mount Carmel Item, January 8, 1918.

“Hex cat worries Schuylkill County.” Allentown Democrat, October 10, 1911.

“Hex cats' victim tries to burn 2 tenements.” Danville Morning News, June 17, 1916.

“Hex doctors congress on bewitched farm.” Greenville Record-Argus, September 30, 1911.

“Hex victim is buried, spirits after daughter.” Pottsville Republican, September 26, 1911.

“Many want to capture hex cat.” Pottsville Republican, September 29, 1911.

“News oddities.” Lancaster Semi-Weekly New Era, June 17, 1916.

“No arson in hex fire.” Harrisburg Telegraph, November 24, 1916.

“Pottsville has a hex of a time.” Pottsville Republican, October 16, 1911.

“Powwow folk fix it all up.” Lebanon Courier and Semi-Weekly Report, October 3, 1911.

“Supposed demon cat is captured with Bible.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 2, 1911.

“That Tumbling Run hex.” Pottsville Republican, September 26, 1911.

“Thomas, hex cat victim, to spend 90 days in jail.” Mount Carmel Item, June 28, 1916.

“Will kill hex cat for $25.” Pottsville Republican, October 11, 1911.

“Witches are blamed for man's ill luck.” San Francisco Examiner, December 3, 1911.

http://schuylkillhavenhistory.com/TUMBLINGRUN.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167758949/howell-thomas

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm#sort=First_Name+asc,Last_Name+asc&q=thomas&fq%5B%5D=State%3A%22Pennsylvania%22