The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-21
CAPTAIN kAY'S HAT
1t Was Battered and Anticipated, but
Struggled Hard For Existence.

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Struggled Hard For Existence.
CAPTAIN Kay, as we will call him,
then in command of H. M. S. S., at
anchor in Alden harbor. having been
three years on the East Indian station,
was clearing out his cabin prior to be-
ing ordered home, and finding his Lon
don hat case opened it, and, as may
easily be credited, three years moth
and dampness had reduced its tenant to
a djlapidated condition, besides which
sundry pictures in illustrated journals
had made the gallant captain aware
that his once fashionable tile had been
superseded by shorter and more curly
brimmed description of the hatty genus.
Wanting in shape, color and condi-
ton, the captain said to his servant,
Throw it overheard, and overheard it
went, but,was not got rid Of, as events
quickly showed. One of the crew of
boat from the flagship coming from the
shore, espying the hat floating in the
water, picked it up, and seeing the
name inside the coxswain brought it
to the commander of his ship, and he
sent it on board Captain Kay's ship
with his compliments, thinking of
course that 1t had fallen overheard by
accident.
dash the hail" said Captain Kay;
here, chuck it overheard again, and
tell your commander I'm very much
Obliged and down he went to his
cabin.
Two hours afterward the hat return
ed, looking sadly out of repair, with
Captain N. s compliments. This time
it had been picked up by the boatkeeper
in one of the boats lying astern of Cap
tain N. S ship, an American man-of-war
lying farther down Alden harbor, and
having been dried in the sun was sent
back to its proper ship and owner. Tell
Captain N. I'm very much obliged to
him. said the now wrathful captain,
and the American officer departed.
"Confound the hat!'' said Captain Kay.
I'll shall have to ask N. to dinner. Here,
bring me shot or lump of coal or
something else heavy" A lump Of
coal was produced, it was placed in
side, and by the captains directions the
hat was taken down the accommodation
ladder, carefully allowed to fill with
water, and it sank!
'.Well, I've seen the last of that
blessed hat,' said Captain Kay, and
whistling cheerfully descended to the
cabin, but again he underestimated that
hats restrictive powers, for two days
afterward parcel arrived addressed to
Captain Kay, Fl. M. S. So with
8 rupees 8 annas to pay. The money
paid, the parcel was opened, and inside,
looking still more disreputable and dis
sipated, was the hat again, together witt
very civil note from the superintend-
emit of police, saying that one of the
diving boys-and there are swarms of
them, as any one who has been in Alden
harbor knows-had found the inclosed
hat, which he saw from the name inside
belonged to Captain Kay, and as he
knew Captain Kay would wish the div
ing boy to be rewarded for his honesty
ne had presented him with a rupee.
which action he hoped would meet
with the captains approval. Police
station fees, 1 rupee and boat hire,
rupee 8 annas!
Then Captain Kay smiled graciously
at the hat, and he ordered a big fire to
be lit in the stokehold, and when it was
very hot he took the hat below, and
having jumped on it directed it to be
pushed into the hottest part of the fur
mace, and then he gloated over its de-
struction, but even as it crumbled to
ashes,." Captain Kay, R. NJ" was seen
inside to the last. Ga
zette.