New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
CAPTAIN KAY.S HAT.
NOT MEANT TO BE CASTAwAY

The story of the resurrectionary powers OF Xero-
tine sccative in my notes lately reminds me Of an
other yarn. which. at the risk of being considered
frivolous l will spin. promising that, although
it may have been known to some naval officers FOR
years. 1t has never appeared in print before, and
that 1t is not an advertisement for any firms In
delble ink 1t Is well-known protective custom
dinners and evening parties. TO have their names
printed IN the inside OF their hats. and the best
hatters have types all ready. and purchaser can,
30 to speak. Insure his hat in this way without
mand OF H. N. S. $. at anchor in Alden Har-
Dor having been three years on the East India India
ordered home: and finding his London hat case,
years moth and dampness had reduced It's tenant
TO a diapldated condition. besides which sundry
Captain aware thai his once fashionable tile
had been superseded by shorter and more curly
brlmmed description Of the hatty genus.
Wanting in shape color and condition. the Cap
overheard il went but not got rid Of. as events
the flagship coming from the shore espying the
h nams 81 s up to h
apnn Of s mis- P b and he II on hoard
of course, that 4 had fallen overheard by accident:
D the hat said Captain Kay; here, chuck 1t
much obliged" and down he went to his cabin
Two hours afterward the hat returned. looking
this time it had been picked up by the boatkeeper
In one Of the boats lying astern OF Captain Ms
Alden Harbor and. having been dried In the sun.
was sent back to It's proper ship and owner Tel
Captain y I'm very much obliged to him." said the
now wrathful captain. and the American officer de-
parted "Confound the hat" said Captain Kay; Il
shall have to ask n. to dinner. Here. bring Inc
shot or lump Of coal, or something else heavy"
lump Of coal was produced. 1t was placed inside,
and by the captains directions the hat was taken
down the accommodation ladder. carefully allowed
to I'LL with water. and II sank
We'll I've seen the last Of that blessed hat" said
to his cabin, but again he underestimated that hats
restrictive power. for two days afterward a
parcel arrived addressed to Captain Kay H. NJ. S.
s." with three rupees eight annas to pay. The
money paid. the parcel opened and inside, look
ing stu more disreputabe and dssipated, was the
hat again. together with very civil from the
superintendent Of police. saying that one OF the
diving boys-and there swarms of them az any
one who has been In Alden Harbor knows-had found
the inclosed hat, which he from the name in
side belonged to Captain Kay and as he knew Cap:
tain Kay would wish the diving boy TO be rewarded
for his honesty, he had presented him with rupee,
tain's, approval Pol1ce-station fees. rupee. and
boat hire II rupee annas.
Then Captain Kay smiled graciously at that hat,
and he ordered big fire to be lit In the stokehold,
and when II very hot he took the hat below,
and having Jumped on II. directed IL to be pushed
into the hottest part Of the furnace. and then he
gloated over it's destruction. but even 1t crum-
bled to ashes Captain Kay. X. NJ" was
inside to the very last.