Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-21
Charley, the Mascot of tho Nipsic.
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"The Nipsic was saved by a mascot, s"
said seafaring man who had spent years
aboard the vessel when he heard Of
the terrible cyclone at Samoa. The
Nipsic was the only one of the three of
the American vessels that withstood the
terrible hurricane last week. All the old
salts lay the good fortune OF the Nipsic
to the fact that the mascot was aboard.
Sailors are as superstitiOus as baseball
PLAYERS, and indeed they may be even
more so The men on tie Nipsic be-
lieve that good luck will attend them
Just so long as Charley stays aboard. TO
injure the cat would be a serious matter
should the offender be caught.
The first name of the mascot Of the
Nipsic is Charley, but nobody seems to
know his last name. He is a white and
gray cat, Charley is veteran of the
high seas, having been all around the
world a number of times, and be has
painted all the big cities OF Europe red
upon more than one occasion when oil
on lark with his messmates. Thomas
Whelan, of this city. who was a marine
on board the Nipsio for two years, tells
some queer stories about Charley.
One day the Nipsic put into Gibraltar
10 replenish its store of provisions.
There was an English man-ofwar along
side the wharf, and on il was tremendous
big black cat, which strutted up and
down the main deck like British lion,
but he tried to initiate a camel as soon az
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 vessels
gathered around, and the felines went at
it tooth and nail-mostly nail Betting
was about even at the opening round,
but Charley had his claws fast in John
Bulls cats wool in jif,y, and in about
two iifies the British fur and gore were
scattered all over the wharf, and the big
fellow would have been slain If Charley
had not been beaten OIL in time.
Upon another occasion At the same
placed a native went on board the Nlpslc
with half a dozen monkeys, which he
offered for sale to the officers. IS 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 ma
tive went away minus the "monks.
Livery time a native came on board with
parrots or canaiies Charley laid low IN
coil Of rope until the opportunity offer
cd, snl then he pounced upon and made
meal OF one OF the birds.
1T Nice Charley went ashore with
some OF the boys and bad q roilicking
time The sailors came back, but
Charley did not appear for three days.
When he did return it was evident that
he had been around to see q minister, az
he was accompanied by Il beautiful lady
cat of the Maltese variety. During the
progress of q spree at Genoa Charley
had his picture taken.
Re is just as well posted with regard to
naval tactics as any sailor, and when the
guns are being fred Charlie goes alo.t
md STAYS there until the smoke has
cleared away. lie is always up early in
the morning and takes his place in the
line at roll.calI. He gets his breakfast
and other meals just as the sailors doand
taxes his erog before going to bed like
nm old topper. He has been on number
OF other vessels and WAS on board tue
Nipsic when she ran oil a bar In the
River Tagus while going into Lisbon.