The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-23
PIGGY OF THE NAVY.
Mistake OF n Ships Surgeon In
Treating Some Live stock.
From the New York sun. e

From the New York sun.
MISUNDERSTANDING man who just pass
ed is a friend of mine" said a popular
naval officer, land he meant no onense in
calling me Piggy 1t is only little pet
name they have for me In the navy, and
l don't mind it in the least from those I
know well.
You see it came to be given to me In
this way: We had been ordered from ia
pan away around to the coast of South
America. The ship wasn't the fastest in
the service, even in those slow going days,
and to make matters worse, we had been
instructed to proceed under sail. 1 was
caterer OF my mess, very important per-
son, you may be sure, on account of the
long voyage in prospect, and the proba-
buity of 4 pretty miserable table before il
was over If my resouroeful qualities were
not sufficient for the occasion. When we
reached Honolulu l hurried ashore to lay
in supplies l had collected 81 800 from
the members of the mess and was happy
in the belief that l would out-cater any
other caterer that the navy had ever
known While | was ashore | heard of
man who had some pigs for sale, and the
idea struck me that l could provide fresh
pork for the long trip we were about 70
iAiettANs ht lAiOu9uh VI SillAuS uOWn 10
fresh pork chops a month out from Homo
lulu was delicious. | was not selfish from
an epicurean standpoint in the contem-
plation. IL was of the compliments that
would be heaped upon me by The other
members of the mess that l was tn mixing
How my messmates would praise my long
Medicines, and how the members of 9th
er messes would envy us
We'll l purchased the pigs-ten of
them Thew n -lAolrfyg fol
lows, not very fat, but capable of being
put In tiIst-class cOndtti-n for eating in
short while. Everybody in the mess con
graduated me en- my thoughtful ness, but
there was just enough of sly suggestion
that the pigs would not survive the voy-
age TO make me nervous, and put me or
my mettle. l realized that my reputation
as caterer rested with these little pork
ers. Everybody on board ship took an in
terest in the success of my experiment.
'Uput the pigs in charge of an old sal
lorman, in whom | had confidence. He
was told to give them careful attention,
and to watch for any signs of sickness.
knew that | could trust him implicit
ly, but so great was my concern for their
welfare, that l went to look at them ev-
cry day. We killed and ate one, and It
was great Then we ate three more and
each tasted better than the others, for
we were beginning to long for the good
things of land. One day when | was Just
off watch, and so tired that / wanted to
turn in right away, the jacky who had
charge of the porkers came and said:
IF you please, sir, them pigs Is a-look-
in sort O peaked. l wish you'd come
an have a look at EN-. sir"
Naturally, was worried, and. tired as
| was, | went to the pen. II was pain
the pigs were not well They showed 1t
I'm their utter listlessness and in piteous
little squeals. | did not know what to
do at first. Then l thought of the doctor.
l went to him and said:
Old man, you and / have been ship
mates a long time, and | think ! know
you well enough to ask a professional ia
vor'
" Go ahead, old man. he answered
Don't be afraid to ask
His words and manner encouraged me
You see, doctors are a little sensitive in
professional matters, and l was afraid Of
offending him.
It's just this, l said boldly, those
pigs of mine are sick I'm afraid they're
in bad way, and / wouldn't have any
thing happen to them for the world Please
don't take it amiss if l ask you to have
a look at them
"tIeanswered cordially: Certainly. III
look a the pigs. l understand exactly
how you feel about it,
Cod bless you, old man. I exclaimed
ferveutly grasping his hands In both of
mine and | led him to the pigs
After making careful examination,
the doctor relieved me very much by say
ing that there was nothing serious the
matter and that the pigs would be all
right after he had given them a dose Of
medicine When the apothecary had pre-
pared the prescription, we went back to
the pigs and poured the medicine down
their threats, and then, with an easy
mind, ! turned in.
1T must have been about o'clock In
the morning when the old jacky, who
cared for the pigs. awakened me with the
startling announce ment that my charges
were acting strangely My first thought
was that the doctor had played trick on
me. My Indignation was strong as / shook
him awake and told him to dress himself
While he dressed | said:
Doctor, you and | have been good
friends, but if you have given anything TO
those pigs that you should not have given
them, our friendship will end If you have
played trick. hereafter we will not know
each other"
He protested, with tears in his eyes,
that he had not done anything to harm
the porkers. Come with me-, | said, the
truth will soon be known.
I'VE reached the pigs just in time to see
the surviving one of the six poor, lttle
fellows breath his last l turned to the
doctor for an explanation.
What have you to say, sir? I de-
manded. Do you know what this means
to me, sir? You have caus the loss of six
pigs; you have forced my mess to
be deprived of fresh meat for the rest of
the voyage; you have made me the butt
of the ship. ! suppose that every one on
board will be calling me Piggy" before
the going down of another sun"
He looked al me In an appealing way.
"Old man., he said, ana his voice broke.
I did not play any trick on you, but | adj
nit that l made mistake Forgive me,
old man, it was all my fault gave them
adult doses.