The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
THE WATCH FOR BUTLER
Detective McHattie'S New Parrot
Is Oa to Its Masters
Job.
Polly Tried to Interview a Carrier
Pigeon F.om the Farallones
for News.

Notwithstanding there are five New
castle ships out a longer period from that
port than the Swanhilda the alarmists on
the wharf are wondering if Butler will at
tempt in some manner to delay her COM
ing. The man who hit upon the ingenious
plan of advertising for victims, whom he
carried away into the wild Australian
mountains and butchered at his LEISURE
would not let little thing like four
masted clipper ship bring him into the
handouts OF the waiting detectives.
He certainly knows by the signal of the
Union steamer Taupo made to the Swan
hida in mid ocean that something of in
terest to himself was in the wind. While
his conscience may not be troubling him
to any great extent, he undoubtedly feels
that the Sydney police are probing around
his private cemeteries in the hills, and
steamships and telegraphlc ca bleS are
speedy and sure.
So the question arises, like an uneasy
ghost from ore of his graves in the far
away Australian bush, What is Butler,
the man with the post-mortem aliases
doing to the Swanhilda?" The consignees
of the Swanhilda count her due on the 2Sth
OF this month. which will give her sixty
five days, ample time in which to make
the run. She is MIN BILE sailer in light
airs and can pick up her heels in topsall
breeze like a seagull; consequently, if she
is afioat nothing but a continuation of
dead Gains could have kept her away
from this port.
This unusual state OF affairs may never
take place. as the British ship Morialta,
another ocean greyhound, from Newcastle
hence, is now out seventyeight days.
But justice is not particularly I'M crested
In that craft and the detective watch is
wondering quietly where the Swanhilda
is at.
Detective McRattie has a parrot at the
Meiggs police station. is keenly
alive to the business OF his master from
the point of his hooked bill to the tip of
his every green feather.
The bird has heard the constant ques-
ton of "Wh is the Swanhilda?" from
every visitor to the wharf till 1t is 'on' to
the full details of McHattie's job. Now
when lounger comes into the station
Polly anticipates him with its eloquent
Whereas the Swanhilda?' Officer Fer
guson states upon his honor that Polly
reads the Shipping Guide carefully every
morning and counts on its toes the days
it has predicted will elapse before the ship
comes IN.
Yesterday a carrier pigeon was brought
in and the parrot tried to interview the
feathered messenger regarding the news
from the Farallones.
1OlLy ~ So HluCu tuc Wdbb-o-SA hShOi
kind of bird that it eats its apportionment
of hardtack before the regular breakfast
hour, and Sergeant Bonner, who is also
Federal officer, says he will put the parrot
on close allowance of Government ra-
tions. 1t has developed such an appetite
for tea that Detective Egan keeps the
caddy steamlng all the time.
The pigeons that have beer sent out by
Miss Daisy Doud from the island have
hard time running the gauntlet OF the
fish hawks that lie in wait for them.
Yesterday two birds were turnedloose,
and after making a brave start for the
Golden Gate were chased by their fierce
enemies. The hawks drive the poor help
less homers that have no chance in life
except in their faithful wings, down near
, the water, where the carriers lose their
bearings become bewildered and fall into
the sea. One of the two pigeons was seen
with glass to escape its pursuer, but the
other was driven back to the island and
was so frightened that it could not be per-
suaded to take another flight.