Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-12-01
Captain Kay,s Hat.

lErom the Westminster G&zette-
Captain Kay, IS we will call him, then
in command of her msiesty's steamship
-, at anchor IN Alden hErbor, having
been three years on the East Indian sta
zion, was clearing out his cabin prior to
being ordered home, and finding his Lon
don hat case, opened IL, and, as may esklly
be credited, three years moth and damp
ness hsd reduced it's tenant to q dilkplaA-
tsd condition, besides which sundry Pic
lures In illustrated journals had made the
gallant captain aware that his once fash
ionsble "tils" hsd been superseded by q
shorter and more oariiy .brimmed descrip-
ton of tbs hstty genus.
Wanting In shape. color aud condition,
the captain said 10 his servant, Throw IL
overheard" and overheard" 81 wsnt but
not got rid of, as events quickly showed.
One of the crew of boat from the hEg-
ship coming from the shore. espying the
bat floating In the water. picked IL mp and
seeing the name inside. the eoIsWain
brought 81 to tn. commander Of his ship,
and be sent Il on board Captain Ksy's chip
with his compliments, thinking, Of course,
that IL had fallen over board by accident
% the tRt'" said Captain Kay;
here. chuck It overheard sgsin, and tell
Your commander rE very much obliged"
and down be went 10 his cabin.
TWO hours afterwards the hat returned,
looking sadly out of repair, with Captain
Ms compliment; tbis slime 1t bad been
picked up by the boat keeper 80 one rf the
boats lying Asiern of Captain Ne ship, an
American man of-wsr lying further down
Alden hsFboF, and having been dre3 in
the sun, was sent back 20 its proper thip
and owner "T-ll Captain n. I'm very
much Obliged TO him" fsid the now wrath
full captain. aud the American officer de-
parted '-Cuhfound the hats" ssid Cap
'sin Kay; Il shall have 20 Esk n. TO din
ner. Here. bring NJ q shot OF q lump Of
coal, or something else heavy" A lump
of cseAl wss produced. IL was plbced inside,
and hy the captains directions the bat was
taken down ths accommodation ladder,
carefully allowed TO ill with water, ard IL
sauk!
well, I've seen tie last Of tha. blessed
hat" said Captain Ksy, and Whistling
cheeIfDlly, descen1e1 TO the eAhin: but
again he unde estimsted that hats resur-
rective power, for two days afterwards
parcel arrived addressed 90 Captain Kay,
Her MAjesty's Ship s." with three ru-
p-es eight annss to pay TIE money psid,
the parcel was opened, snd inside, looking
still more disrtputsbls snd dissiPsted, was
the hat sgaip, together with q very civil
note from the superintendent Of police,
saying that one of the diving boys, and
there are swArms of them. as GDy one who
has been in Alden hsr Dor knoEs, had found
the enclosed hat, which b. saw from the
name inside belonged to Captain Kay. and
IS be knew Captain Kay would wish the
diving bog to be rewarded for his honesty,
he had presented him with e rupee, which
action he hoped would meet with the CAD
tsin's approval Polics-ststiOn fees, one
rupse, and boat hire, one rupee, eight an
mss
Then Captain kay smiled ErAciously at
the hat, sDd he ordered big FIRE to be lit
In the stokehold, and when Il was very hot
ne took the hat below, aud having jumped
on 1t, directed II to be pushed into the hot
test part of the furnace, and thsn be
glosted over it's destruction, but even as it
crumbled to ashes Captain Kay, r. NJ"
was seen inside to the last.