Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-31

TOM AND ENGINEER LITTLE OF
RECORD BREAKING FELINE HAS
Incidentally. Tom has had many strange
experiences. He has been battered about
and laid on the sick list moro than once.
but never has this prevented him from
continuing his travels.
Tom has done most Of his iourneyings
Oh the Alameda on board OF which Mr..
Little has sailed as chief engineer for
over thirteen years The Alameda plies
between san Francisco. Hawaii New Xea-
land. and Australia. and at every port
where the vessel touches Tom is as well
known as the Oldest salt in the service.
There are dozens of persons interested I'm
him. and many II them keep a record Of
the miles ne travels adding 10 the score
whenever the famous Old feline reaches
port. on the waterfront at San Fran
cisco Tom is as we'll known in fact bet
ter-than the oldest policeman on the
beat, and surely twice as we'll liked, and
at Honolulu, Apia, Auckland, and Sydney
he Is first fav0rte with AL who frequent
the docks. There will certainly be gene
raj lamentation II Tom is not spared 10
make his record OF a million miles, but
the chances are that he viii be, for at
present the old cat is as healthy as he
ever was.
1t was not until Tom had been at sea
for zen years that Mr.. Little began TO
figure Up the number OF miles he had COW
cred. but since that time he has kept n
careful record, and at the close of the last
voyage. when it was discovered that Tom
had covered a distance of $1,000 miles,
there was general feasting among the
crew. AZ present the feline globe-trotter
is forging his way over the ocean, adding
more miles to his record and when he
left San Francisco he looked as strong as
II he were still in his prime. and so the
race between Time and Death goes on,
with Time having the best of it up to
now.
HIS NEW HOME.
Tom originally belonged 10 the crew OF
the bark Alden Bessie. He was then quite
O kitten. This was about thirteen years
ago. One day he crawled up the gangway
Of the Alameda and started to run round
the deck as If he was anxious 10 start
record for travelling. Several of the
sailors tried 10 catch him, but Tom would
not be caught. He secreted himself in
various parts OF the ship until she went
10 sea. and from that day TO this he has
been on board the Alameda.
AS he grew older. Tom began to set
tie down TO business and IL was not
long before the upper part OF the ship
and the tween decks were perfectly
clear of rats. II was this quality that
brought him so much good luck, and also
a great deal OF comfort.
From the moment that Tom boarded
the Alameda he kept 10 himself No
amount Of coaXing could make him
friendly He would not allow any one
to pick him up. and IL any of the sailors
tried to stroke him he would dart
Off and disappear for a couple OF
days Then he would renew his crusade
on the rats. This was the case on the
first voyage that Tom took. One day
ne was hunting the vermin. and hap
pened to chase monster rat into the
galley. In his anxiety to catch his foe,
Tom jumped on TO 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, who has al
ways been very fond of Tom, started
for him. cropping among the cargo for
several hours. at last finding him
writing In pain between 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 engineer.
There are now three cats on board the
Alameda; but. OF course, they are not
such old voyagers as Tom. and he seems
to know Il, for under no circumstances.
will he allow one OF the green hands"
TO walk on the poop. Perhaps, when
they too, have travelled 1000 miles,
things will be different but pow. Tom
Is very strong. Thirteen Years Of
food and sea air have told their tale,
making him one Of the healthiest feline
specimens that ever went TO sea.
or late years Tom has acted as senti-
mel at the door Of Engineer Lttles
state-rooin, but there is something
paradoxical about his methods. He will
KIN every rat that dares to make an
appearance; but. If he ends the life Of
one anywhere else on the ship, the first
thing he does Is TO deposit the carcass at
Mr. Littlcs door.
VERY sAGAcIoUs.
But this wonderful travelling cat Is
sagaclous In other ways lie knows the
sound OF o nying-fsh. and never
one falls on the deck that does not find
its way TO the chief engineers door.
Flying fish are considered quite a deli
cacy at sea. but Tom is always reward
ed for his faithfulncss by being allowed
10 eat his captive. The only annoying
part about this popularity OF Toms
is thai he will often crawl on TO Mr..
Titles bed and awaken him. II he has
victims body 70 display But his mas
ter never chides him for this and so the
old cat remains happy. at least In this
regard
Tom has never missed sailing day.
H. IL too anxious TO travel In his
younger days he used 10 80 ashore great
deal, and sometimes ne stayed away for
day or two at time. but he always
showed up at muster on sailing day Mr..
Little has always been at n loss 10 know
how the Get seemed 10 realize that the
ship was about TO sail. but the fact re-
mains that he lid so, and does so still