The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-24
SOME SAILORS PETS.
ANIMALS, WiLC AND TAMt. TIA
SAIL THE OCEAN

tina. got Dru Ik-Oiher Queer Phase, Oh
Sailors nature.
Among the many queer phases OF a
g tiiOr ) nature, none is more character
i-tic than those which impel his affac-
ton toward any animal that will permit
II sci. to be carried with him to sea. Ills
pets are confined 10 no exclusive ci4ss,
though he mostly inclines to some
domesticated creature that suggests the
land Of his own nativity. Traditional
TO ance pictures the apprentice la re-
turning a captain bearded like bush
ranger. and swearing strange Oaths. his
crDin stored with grotesque curiosities
:rom foreign shores for wife, sweet
heart or friend.
the most interesting ships favorite
are on men-o'-war When the cruiser
Baltimore left New York as IA funeral
barge she carried Il wcll-known navy pet
"h was entered in the sh PIP ng papers
a. William Goat, occupation mascot -
Il GOAT was originally Mr. Kid, and az
such was picked up in Il foreign port by
:hr- Ola Galena. This was four OF five
years ago, but even then he exhibited
traits which have since developed into
something like actual intelligence. As
he grew older he became so particular
upon certain points of naval etiquette
that whenever it was thought good to
take him ashore, he would StubbOrnly
refuse to go in any save certain cutter
SO great was his attachment to the
Galena, that when Il few months ago, it
was decided to transfer him to the Bal
tinore, the operation was accomplished
by main force. He soon became ac-
climated in his new quarters, however
an in Il short time had developed a
divine service held aboard He listens
with great gravity to the words of the
chaplain, and after tie sermon is con-
cluded he goes among t. he sailors begging
for chew Of tobacco to relieve his
gitated conscience. The tobacco is
readily obtained, and he masticates it
win a proficiency that is found only in
sea Going society.
Hogs have been renowned as ships
favorites, and one that lived on the
Richmond during the war developed
such sagacity taat he would pace the
quarter deck with the precision and reg
u:&r ty of an ot1ic er for half the night at
a 2:me. He grew 50 fat Tat this feat at
last !ecame very difficult, aad his subSe-
Quelt history is involved in mourn:ul
mystery. This hog was SO clean that he
bathnd every morning. Dogs have
proved popular, and one at the Norfolk
yard came in time to know everybody
aboard ship so well that he would per-
nit no stranger to pass the gangway.
In fOsmer years the Bencia owned Al
ape that would both chew and smoke.
Once or twice it got drunk, and being
Wei sized, made things very lively.
zen it suddenly quit and could never
a,-ain be persuaded to touch anything
strong. 1t was very ufc tionate and
would awake sailors IL morning by
EUg-lng them. III t.: les ,ect, Gid
Crimes, for SO he was named. differed
from Il balloon Oh the Brook yn. This
Gni!nal was 81 savage TAFT 4" had to be
keit in Il cage. Tor wheI..I = .e got loose
he would clear the &c h aiI chase the
sailors to the rigging.
Probably the most famous that the
r;;vy has known lives on Commander
n Calais old ship. he Enterprise. His
'san" is Dan. AMI he come, Of Il peculiar
faElilv OF felines, vino alc renowned for
ieir puGnHc: Oa:5 powe. y. Dan is coal
lack in color, and iii l@,ialiy long in
body. III face has a clriOuSiy savage
ioon, which is enhanced By the partial
loss of one ear in battle. He is the hero
o: many yarn of both forecastle and
quarter deck. One leg has Il curious
"in" broken in Europe by bulldog
ll.h the cat is said to have conquered.
barge was loading stores alongside the
Enterprise recently. and aboard it was
nO;i cable Il eat of enormous prOpOr-
tionS. Dan manifested so pronounced
IcSire to make the strangers acquaint-
anve that the Captain of the barge
warned an Enterprise officer to keep Dan
away, as the animal, he said was an
irreverpllt terror. The officer remarked
that Dan also was something of that
kind, and an agreement for cat fight
was entered into at once. The animals
came together like cyclones, and for
wni.e there was nothing visible but
hairs, blood, and two little, twisting
bodies, wAch emitted most Internal
screams. For half an hour the fight
seemed anybodys, with even money up
Then the outlines Of the barge cat be-
came more distinct, as the animal tried
to slowly crawl away, 1t was covered
with gore, and wicked Dan had added
another victory to his vicious record
Dan S father is one of the first sights Of
the cob dock at the navy yard to attract
II visitors attention. He sits lazily on
the wharf In the sun, and for piece of
meat will beg and perform other tricks,
if requested to by Sergeant George Yont.
/ u stranger so much as touch him,
however. and his mouth opens with a
savage cry, his back is arched and with
bristling tell he is ready for war unless
let alone. Both foreless OF this cat have
been broken, and this, with his unusual
thickness Of neck and squareness of
chest gives him build like a bulldog.
Tom, another of JumbO's children will
walk tight rope, but Il street cat, Den
FOO. L. hi f,.f>%
said that Dennis was the first thing of
Il 81 - yanquish the redoubtable Dan.
ilymaster John Furey OF the navy yard
has big dog that was Brought from
Scotland by Commanders McCalla 1t
once fell out with Dennis, and thereafter
the cat would post itself at the gangway
on the wharf and resist successfully each
attempt that the dog might make to
land.
The eats at the navy yard attack with
jlghtnlng-llke fury any strange member
OF tier race VINO ventures within their
pre- met. A big dog that belongs to the
1anJic started 10 visit the Vermont re-
Gently. He spied il cat as he sot along
side, and ran for the animal With open
Jaws. Ice cat was ready, and when the
dog got within striking distance. squatted
On her hind legs and landed both her
left and right fore paws on the dogs
lOse with the accuracy of a boxer. Then
she lodged and gave it to him again
He was persistent, however. and nal
nearly caught her in his mouth when SIC
emitted peculiar s,reech, never making
Il movement to akaiidon the field Her
cry seemed a signal, for, in answe. an
other eat clau.Dcr2l over the dock and.
with single bound, was on the dogs
back. Then cat No. redoubled her at.
tentions to the CANNES face, and SO we'll
did both cats fight that in few m ,nutea
OF tins double attack the badly bewild-
cred dog turned tail and rail g, f as il
scared to death. He has not yisltn,! thai
locality siEce.-N. y. Sun.