Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-04-25
1T SAVED THE SIP.
Charley, the Mascot CT the Ameris an
Man-of-War Eipsic.

"The NJ pic was saved by mascot, -
said a seafaring man who had spent
years aboard the vessel when he heard
Of the terrible cyclone at Samoa. The
1ipsic was the only one of the three OF
the American vessels that withstood the
hurricane All the old salts lay the
good fortune ofthe Nipsic to the fact that
the mascot was aboard. Sailors are as
superstitious as baseball players, and
indeed they may be said to be even
more So The men on the Nipsic be-
iieve that good luck will attend them
Just so long as Charley stays aboard.
To injure the cat would be serious
matter should the offender be caught.
The first name of the mascot of the
Nipsic is Charley, but no one seems TO
know his last name. Heis whita-and
gray cat. Charley is a veteran of the
high seas, having been all around the
world number of times, and he has
painted all the big cities of Europe red
upon more than one occasion when off
on lark with his messn ates. Thomas
Whelan, of this city, who Was a marine
on board the Nipsie for two years, tells
some queer stories about Charley.
One day the Nipsic put into Gibraltar
to replenish its store of provisions.
There was an English man-of-war along
side the wharf, and ON it was tremen-
dous big black cat which strutted up
and down the main deck like a British
lion, but he tried to initiate camel as
soon as he saw Charley. The latter had
his weather eye open, and he asked the
blooming British beast to come ON shore
and have few rounds. Immediately
all the officers and sailors of both yes
sells gathered around, and the felines
went at it tooth and nail-mostly nail.
Betting was about even MT the opening
round, but Charley had his claws fast III
John Bull eats wool in jiffy, and in
about two jifiies the British fur and
and the big fellow would have been
slain if Charley had not been beaten
OFF in time.
Upon another occasion, at the same
place, native went on board the Nip
sic with half dozen monkeys, which
he offered for sale to the officers. As
soon as the monkeys were ON deck
Charley bounded into the midst Of
them and created CONSERVATION. The
monkeys went up into the rigging and
Charley remained below, watching for
them to come down, but they did not
dare to bulge until the ship sailed, and
the native went away minus the
'monks." Every time a native came
on board with parrots or canaries Char
ley laid low in coil of rope until the
opportunity offered, and then he pounced
upon and made a meal Of one of the
birds.
At Nice Charley went ashore with
some of the boys and had rollicldng
time. The sailors came back, but Char
ley did not appear for three days.
He is Just as well posted with regard
to naval tactics as any sailor, and when
the guns are being fred Charley goes
aloft and stays there until the smoke
has cleared away. He is always up
early in the morning and takes his place
in the line at roll-call. He gets his
breakfast and other meals just as the
sailors do, and takes his grog before
going to bed like an old topper. He has
been on number of other vessels and
was on board the Nipsic when she ran
on bar in the River Tgus while going
into Lisbon. PHILADELPHIA Record.