Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-22
PARROT BAROMETER.
It Forecasts the Weather With Greater
Accuracy Than the Glass.

From the San Fnncisco Examiner
He was . rough, knotty specimen Of the able
bodied seaman, one who had grown old before
the mast and sailed ell sorts Of craft in every
sec travelled BY ships. A 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 Of 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 large green and red
parrot perched on the seamans shoulder, and
apparently oblivious Of the cries Of q number
Of wharf rats who kept up q continuous repeti-
ton Of pretty pollr' "Polly want q cracker2"
and other kindred phrases.
"Polly be blowed!" said the old tar, as he
gently stroked with his seaworn hand the brl-
liant plumage Of his parrot His names
Barometer, though we call him Bar for short.
He is the boss bird, and is known to every
skipper and man he has sailed with for the last
twelve years.
HI BEAT TIE xERcuRY.
"Queer name for . bird, hey? Well, you
wouldn't say 10 il you had ever sailed in the
same ship with him. Barr Why, Bar is
truer than any barometer your smart land
lubbers ever made to foretell she weather
changes, and many's the time he has warned
US long before the glass gave the least sign Of
q change.
''In the South Pacific ocean among the is
lands 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, If it were not for taking his word
in preference to the showing Of the glass, have
been caught unprepared and lost with all hands
in the sudden storms that come on in those
waters.
ION my last trip, which was in the Pitcairn,
n Trad in acho foil a. "a
tions, as We had often done before, and we owe
the safety of the schooner and our lives to
having done 30. We we're in the South Pacific
after fine 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 rufied, 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 re.
fusing to talk, what was the matter, yet we
knew there must be trouble ahead.
I'VE looked at the sky and sea, and every
thing promised continuation of the fine
weather We were then having. The barometer
was steady. and We were about losing faith in
Bar, when We were startled by him crying
out, AL hands ON deck; take in all sailp
Bar then chuckled softly, after which
he began repeating, "A storm! oh, what storm
is coming! until We got fairly tired Of hearing
it
THE PARROTS WARNING.
"'Bar' kept this up for two days and ther
retired to his perch in the forecastle. On the
third day We were sailing along at good speei
when Bar again called, Tumble out, ever,
one, quick for your ivesp
"The mate, who was forward just then
turned to us and said:
II have known that bird for a long time, ani
] am going to follow his warning. Get out here
and take in all sail and make everything SNUG
for blow
"A few Of the men who had never heard o.
Bar, being new hands, grumbied at having t.
obey orders from a parrot, but they were
mighty thankful a short time afterward.
1T was not ten minutes after getting il
readiness that the seas commenced to rise, anG
within half an hour we were in the midst of the
| same storm that wrecked the German anG
American war ships at Samoa.
"We had good boat, and, being well away
from any land and prepared, thanks to Bar,
| we managed to weather the worst storm / evel
knew OF during the years I have sailed tn,
ocean.
Il would not part with the bird, and he goe
on every trip do. Where Bar is no glass i,
| needed. He will quickly call out to you wha
| to expect whenever there comes a change"