The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-24
OWNEY, THE DOG.
He Has Travelled Almost Around the
World.


"Owney, the clever and popular post
office dog, has Travelled over almost every
postal route in North America, and tags
and .medals, collected from his friends
along the way, amounting to n bushel or
more, are kept in the Postoffice Depart
ment at Washington.
In 1895 he visited Postmaster A. B.
Case, of Tacoma, Washington. having
just returned from a trip to Alaska, and
one day it happened that Oney rode down
to the wharf of the Asiatic steamer,
when the great vessel was taking her
cargo.
He so plainly expressed a desire to 20
aboard that it was determined to send
him on flying trip around the world
and TO let him break the record if posi-
bic. So, some days later, on August 10.
1898, his friends said farewell to Ownev,
as he walked up the gangway of the
good ship Victoria. Owney had his Gre
dentials in n travelling bag, and he carried
also his blanket, brush and comb. his
medal harness for full dress anda letters
of introduction TO the postal authorities
of the world
~ Owney was soon the pet of the crew.
and after an uneventful voyage he arriv-
ed at Yokohoma on October 3. Here his
baggage was examined, with no little
curiosity, by the officials, as no dignitarv
had before entered Japan who owned so
many decorations that he was obliged to
carry them about with him in a bag!
1t was concluded that Owney must be
either dog of very high rank or the
property of distinguished person, and
an account of him was promptly forward
ed for the information of His Imperial
Majesty. the Mikado
a few days later an official waited
upon Owney and presented him with a
passport bearing the seal of the NIikado.
1t was addressed to the American dog
traveller and in a very flowery language
extended him the freedom of the interior
country. There We're some stipulations
1.-The bearer is expressly cautioned to OBJ
serve IN every particular the directions
of the Japanese government printed on
the back of the passport, and ne is ex-
pected and required to conduct himself
IN an orderly and conciliatory manner
toward the japanese authorities--and peo-
Pile The passport also forbade him to
'attend fire on horseback warned
him not TO write ION temples, shrines
or walls, and politely requested him not
to drive too fast on narrow roads
After meeting many officials, Owney
sailed from Yokohoma, arriving at Kobi
on October D, where he received medals
and new passport from the emperor.
He was at Mali, Shanghai and Foochow.
where also lac received more medals and
was the subject of an ovation His fame
had preceded him, and at the latter port
he received an invitation to visit the
United States steamer ''Detroit.n which
was lying in the harbor.
One day the marine at the ganCwav of
this line man Of war was astonished TO
see hemuddled shaggy dog come up the
ladder waggng his tail and showing all
the delight that a patriotic American
should at the sight in foreign lands of the
Stars and Stripes. The marine almost
laughed as Owney stepped aboard and
ran up TO the officer of the deck as
though he had known him all of his life
Owney dined in the mess room. ate
plumdutf and lobscouse before the mast.
When he babe his countrymen farewell
he was decorated with the ships ribbon
and he received letter of Introduction
TO other officers of the Asiatic SQUADRON
From Foo Chow the dog sailed TO Hong
Kong, where he was unfortunately de-
layed and prevented from making sneed
record around the world He visited the
consulate, made round of visits to the
rich tea and silk merchants and received
many curious pieces of Chinese money.
which were strung to his collar From