The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-27
A TRAVELLING CAT.

here Is cat tnaC is surviving TO make
unique record. To cover LOCO. 900 miles
is the goal of its ambition, and that OF
its owner, Chief Engineer A. D. Little
of the steamer Alameda, of the Oceanic
Line.
1t is the most widely travelled cat in
the world. Up to the present time Tom
has covered distance of 675,000 miles
and both he and is master are living in
the hope that he will be able to reach
the million mark. Incidentally Tom has
has many strange experiences. Ii has
been battered about and laid on the sick
list more than once, but never has this
prevented him from continuing his trav-
els.
Tom has done most of his journeyinge
on the Alameda, on board of which Mr..
Little has sailed as chief engineer for
over thirteen years. The Alameda plies
between San Francisco, New Zealand,
Hawaii and Australia, and at every port
where the vessel touches Tom is as we'll
known as the oldest salts in the service.
There are dozens of persons interested in
him. and many of them keep record of
the miles he travels. adding to the score
whenever the famous old fe ice reaches
port. On the water front at San Fran
cisco Tom is as we'll known-in fact,
better-than the oldest policeman on
o,o1 e,.ralxr tu,sa ,xyaII ts1zol o,o1
at Honolulu. Apia. Auckland and Sydney
he is first favorite with all who frequent
the docks.
1t was not until Tom had been at sea
for ten years that Mr.. Little began to
figure up the number of miles he had
covered, but since that time he has kept
careful record, and at the close of the
last voyage, when it was discovered that
Tom had covered a distance Of 675000
miles. there was general feasting among
the crew.
From the moment that Tom boarded
the Alameda he kept to himself. No
amount of coaxing could make him
friendly. He would not allow any
one to pick him up, and if any of the
sailors tried to stroke him, he would
dart off and disappear for couple of
daye. Then he would renew his crusade
among the rats. This was the case on
the first voyage that Tom took. One
day he happened to chase monster rat
into the galley. In his anxiety to catch
his foe Tom jumped on the stove. His
feet were badly burned. and with howl
OF pain he rushed out of the galley and
slowed himself away in the tween decks.
Engineer Little started for him. cropping
among the cargo for several hours. at
last finding him writhing in pain be-
tween two barrels. Little picked up the
cat and took him to his room, dressing
his feet with vaseline every day until
they were cured, and from that time
Tom has been friendly to the chief en-
gineer.
or late Tom has acted as sentinel at
the door of Engineer Littls's stateroom,
but there is something paradoxical about
his methods. He will kill every rat that
dares to make an appearance, but il he
ends the life of one anywhere else on the
ship the first thing he does is to deposit
the carcass at Mr.. Little's door.
This wonderful travelling cat is saga
cious in other ways. He knows the sound
of "a flying fish, and never one falls on the
deck that does no. find it's way to the
chief engineers door. Flying fish are
considered delicacy at sea, but Tom is
always rewarded for his faithfulnees by
being allowed to eat his captive. The
only annoying part about this peculiar.
ity of Toms is that he will often crawl
upon Mr.. Titles bed and awaken him
if he has victims body to display.
Tom has never missed a sailing day.
He is too anxious to travel. In his young
or days he used to go ashore great deal
and sometimes he stayed away for day
or two at time, but he always showed
up at muster on sailing day. Mr.. Little
has always been at loss to know how
the cat seemed to realize that the ship
was about to sail. but the fact remains
that he did SO, and does so still.