The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-30
A PARROT BAROMETER.
1t Forecasts the Weather With Greater
Accuracy Than the Glass.
prom DE San Ftaneisco Eraniner.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
He was rough, knotty specimen of the
eble-bodied seaman, one who had grown
Old before the mast and sailed in all sorts of
craft in every sea Travelled by ships AS he
stood at the boat landing at the foot Of
/ Vallejo street yesterday. waiting to be
/ taken of TO his ship, he made a study we'll
| worthy the best effort of an artist But
what attracted the attention OF the loiterers
on the dock even more than the appearance
| OF the bronZed old salt was a large green
| and-red parrot perched o. the sea mans
shoulder, and apparently oblivious TO the
cries Of a number of wharf rats who kept
up con tlnuous repetition of Pretty poll p
"Polly want crackerT and other kindred
phrases.
Polly be blowedl" said the old tar. as he
gently stroksd with his seaworn hand the
brilliant plumage of his parrot His
names Barometer, though wa call him Bar
Tor short. He is the BOSS bird, and IL
known to every skipper ana man he has
sailed with for the last twelve years.
HE BEAT THE MERCURY.
Queer name for a bird, hey? Well. you
wouldn't say SO if you had ever sailed In the
same ship with him. Barr Why. Bar is
truer than any barometer your smart land
iubbars ever made 20 foreteu the weather
changes. and many's the time he has warned
US long before the glass gave the least sign
of a change.
"ln the South Pacific ocean among the
islands and IN the Asiatic seas, where we
were together on trading voyages, Bar
has been the means OF the safety of more
| than one vessel that would, il it were not
for taking his word in preference 70 the
showing of the glass, have been caught IN
| prepared and lost with all hands in the sud
den storms that come on in those waters
'On my last trip, which was in the Pit
cairn, trading schooner, we followed
Bars predictions, as we had often done
| before, aud we owe the safety of the
schooner and our lives TO having done So
| We were in the South Pacific after fiue
woods and cocoanut oil, and were bound for
| Apia, where we intended TO obtain some
stores. For two or three days before the
| barometer gave US any indication of what
was coming, Bar had been climbing about
the schooner with his feathers ruffied, and
ever ready to bite at any one approaching
| him. He appeared all out of sorts, and,
! though we could not make out exactly, on
account of Bar refusing to talk, what wa,
The matter, yet we knew there must be
| trouble ahead.
1--WE looked at the sky and sea, and every
| thing promised continuation of the fine
! weather we were then having The bs.
|
losing faith in Bar when we were startsc
by him crying out, An hands on deck; take
in all sailn
"'Bar' then chuckled softly, after which
he began repeating, "A storml Oh what a
storm is coming until We got fairly tired
of hearing it.
THE PARROTS WARNING.
"'Bar' kept this up for two days and
then retired to his perch in the forecasts
On the third day we were sailing along al
a good speed when Bar again called
Tumble out, every one, quiek for you
hves!7
1.-The mate, who was forward Just then
turned to US and said:
81 have known that bird for a longItim
and am going to follow his warning. Get
outhers and take in all sail.a make every
thing snug for blow
"A few of the men who had Deve
heard Of Bar being new hands, grumblet
at having to obey orders from a parrot, bu
they were mighty thankful a short tim
afterward.
SIT was not ten minutes after getting i
readiness that the seas commenced to rise
and within half an hour we were in tn
midst OF the same storm that wrecked tb
German and American war ships at Samoa
1--WE had a good boat, and being, we
to Bar we managed to weather the wors
storm I ever knew of during the years
have sailed the ocean.
81 would not part with the bird, and b
gees on evtry trip do. Where Bar is n
glass is needed. He will quickly call out t
you what to expect whensyer there comes
| chappen