Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-06-25

Funny rets Of a Deck Hand That Follow
q ship Around.

II read q good deal" said a deck
hand on the Piedmont ferry boat as it
pulled ont from the slip 10 a San
francisco Chronicle reporter, about
the intelligence Of animals and birds.
The eastern and English papers arc
full Of the topic. but no san Francisco
reporter deyotcs any time to such sub
jccts. Now you have Professor Garner
ready TO proceed TO the Guinea coast
to take down on the photograph the
hare-ipped %eloquence Of a lot IL chat
tering monkeys and gorillas, while here
at nome some OF the talented men OF
the dailics obstinately refuse 10 make
themselves acquainted with the acute
intellect Of the humble friends that
they meet every day. s
"fou sec those seven gulls sitting on
the piles Of the slip? They are the
constant companions of the Piedmont,
and follow her every trip from the city
10 Oakland and back again. / know
every one of them and every chick Of
them knows me. have not cultivated
their acquaintance moro extensively
than TO provide them daily with n few
little fishes that my son catches nj the
Oakland wharf. but these birds are
grateful. There is u particular one
there. DO you see him-that one with
a few black spots near the tip Of his
wings? Well, he is moro confident
than an old poll parrot. | can call him,
and he will just plunge toward my
hand and pick from between my fingers
anything have there, although fish is
what he prefers. You doubt mcP Well,
now viii show you that / am telling
you the truth"
Putting his hand into his pocket the
deck hand pulled out q small, withered
perch and called: "Dickey! Dickey!"
Immediately the gull. which had
been lowering over the heads Of those
present. swoopcd down upon the ex-
tended hand Of the sailor. delicately OK
tracted the perch from between his
thumb and forciinger and flew away
with the prize, screcching paans Of
pleasure as he went up into the air.
The deck hand, clatcd at the sue
cess of his demonstration, again as
serted that hickey" had more sense
than a horse and that all the Piedmont
gulis would 10 rs smart as his pet had
he but time TO improve their mental
capacities.
But" added the man, lit is hard for
Inc to train them. because my time is
fully occupied during my watch look
ing after the lower deck, and were the
captain to discover that have leisure
TO fool with these gulls. why,my name
would be mud. Therefore, please don't
give me away"
In n few moments the deck hand
was prepared for another ocular de-
monstration, this time on the intellect
of fishes.
81 have also studied PROPOSES" said
the sage, "and they arc rs cunning as
possums. Now, among my finny friends
there is n porpoise that | christened
johnny. and whenever ! call him Le
shows up and | hand him a fish. He
watches the Piedmont andmyself from
morning 10 night, but he turns up more
regularly nj lunch hours. | will sum
mon him now"
The deck hand called johnny" in a
loud voice, when Immediately, right
under the bow of the boat, up jumped
a big popoisc. The deck hand threw
another perch into the bay and the
porpoise waved his back fur with "a
pleasant shake. Kind of "pour prendre
congo" wriggle sud Disappeared.
Everyone was d~umfouEted at the APP
parent magic. bat the deck hand ex-
planned il with q laugh that waseeIioed
by all present. He said that the pr.
poise had not really answered his call,
but being SO used TO their movements
he knew exactly where il would show
the surface, and he had so timed him
self. while keeping his audience inter.
ested. as Tor bring about the climax
when he was ready for it.