1869 - Isaac S Geer, of Lisbon, Conn., in making some changes in a water pipe, found it needful to extend one through an under drain that ran several feet below the surface.

How to get the pipe through without taking up the drain was a problem. But Mr. Geer studied upon it, and after a while hit upon this admirable plan: He opened the lower end of the drain, and then catching an old calico cat that had been a resident of his family for several years, attached a small line to her leg; then thrusting her into the upper end, and giving a most unearthly "scat," she popped out at the other end, all covered with mud and water, with the line attached to her leg, quicker than one could say Jack Robinson. The pipe was thus drawn through, and Mr. Geer had the satisfaction of saving $10 by his wit, and teaching his neighbors a good lesson in civil engineering.