The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-21
THE cow WAS SAVED.
A True story Of Life In the Far West
The POrpOlse's Cellar.

TACOMA, Feb ga queer-looking craft
was waited into port yesterday afternoon
on the bosom of frosty breeze that blew
in from the sea. 1t was a two-inasted
schooner of about thirty tons burden, and
the home-painted letters on her quarter
proclaimed to the world that she was the
Porpoise, of Port Angeles. She had a low
cabin aft, with short funnel sticking up
above the root, giving to her an indescrib-
able air of defiance and aggressiveness,
and from which cloud OF smoke was
pouring in most steainship-like manner
The crew of this gallant bark consisted
of Captain Barker, first and only mate
and a half-breed Siwash, who was in the
cabin cooking dinner.
The Porpoise had cargo aboard con-
signed to Henry J. Peasley, who lives on
the bluff half way between Old Town and
the Pacific mill. 1t was cargo of live
stock, and consisted of one-eyed mich
cow, which Mr.. Peasley's father-in-law
had shipped him from Port Angeles. This
remarkable animal was standing in the
hold of the steamer with her head sticking
out of the hatch. A troubled expression
was noticeable in her good eye as she
solemnly surveyed the surrounding coun-
try, while at the same time the bad eye
rolled round and round in the most aston
ishing manner. much to the alarm of Mr..
F., who watched her narrowly from the
dock, and momentarily expected her to
perform some desperate act. The animal
had never been to sea before nor had she
ever left her native hills, back of Angeles.
1t was therefore not surprising that she
should feel some uneasinesS.
Mr.. z. had been appraised of the ship
ment and was OH hand, armed with a rope
with which to lead his bovine home. No
doubt he was much elated at receiving
such handsome present, for such it was.
All the COW cost him was her passage from
Angeles, $40. while a common, everyday
bovine, with ordinary orbs, could not be
purchased here under So.
By his direction Captain Barker landed
his vessel alongside the dock al the shingle
mill, below the ship yard. This was a
matter of some difficulty, on account of
the still breeze blowing ut the time, but
the captain is a skilled navigator and
knows how to handle bigger boats than
the Porpoise. The next question was how
to unload the COW. This thought struck
the dock looking down on his one-eyed
milk fountain.
why don't you take her out?" he
bawled at the captain.
That's your funeral. replied the oblig-
ing skipper, ~ simply bargained to bring
Tile pIute 10 port loT %[U, anu QO1l pro-
pose to hire no stevedores. See?" And
then Captain Barker transferred gigantic
chaw from one cheek to the other with a
couplacent nod at the iratc COW owner
This staggered Mr.. p, who began TO think
he had an elephant on his hands instead
of COW.
.'How did you get her in there?" he
asked, after a brief period of thought.
Showed her in We hitched line
round her horns. backed her over the edge
of the hatch and lowered away. That's
how We got her in"
"Well, 'sposen' you shove her out now,
seeing you are so good on the shove" re-
torted Mr.. p, in very loud voice.
The crowd that had gathered in the
meantime began to laugh. The captain
got mad and swore string of cuss words
that took the keen edge off the atmos-
phere. "Shove her out yourself It's
your cow" he retorted
I'm be everlastingly dad-hinged if l
do" yelled Mr.. F., in tone that left no
room for argument. Il can handle cow
ashore, but I'll be hanged if know how
TO get her out of that condemned cellar"
"A cellar," shrieked the captain.
"Yes, cellar"
Then the captain was heard to utter
something that sounded like cuss words,
and to the effect that he would take the
cow back 10 Angeles and sell her for the
freight
Eyes. you willr
That's what, I'm not sailing for the
good of my health this winter, and don't
you forget itp'
Things were beginning TO look blue for
the COW, when the mate, who had been
skirmishing along the dock, hove in sight.
He was just in time to avert bloody bat
tie between Mr.. 2. and the captain by
stating that he had found derrick further
down, where the cargo in dispute could be
safely hoisted out,
So the schooner was dropped down and
made fast directly under the derrick. Then
the captain and his officer rugged a canvas
sling, using square sail for the purpose.
This sling, in the form of broad bandage
was passed under the cows stomach and
the ends firmly knotted at her back The
derrick boom was then swung around and
the chain hooked into the sling. Captain
Barker and his mate then manned the
windlass and began 10 grind, while Mr.
p. stood on the dock, ready TO receive the
cargo at any moment.
Slowly the COW rose up out of the ''cel-
lar" She kicked little At first. but on
finding she was not hurt subsidized like
sensible COW. Ii took but q moment to
hoist her clear of everything after which
the boom with the cow dangling At the
peak was swung around over the dock
Lower away" yelled Mr.. 7.
But unfortunately tAe chain had got
caught ia the top pulley and would not