The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-13
sAGACITY OF \ MAscoT CAT.
Ii Recognized Its Vessel Among Hum
drcds Arriving i'm the Delaware.

drcds Arriving in the Delaware.
From the Philadelphia Times
An instance of remarkable sagacity dis
played by cat in connection with the OH
tank steamer Bayonne, now loading at
Point Breeze. is just now the prevailing
topic of conversation among officials of the
Custom House and the employees of the At
lantc Refining Company 1t is a true story
and is vouched for by the crew of the Ba-
yonne, the boarding officers and all others
having to do with the vessel.
When the Bayonne came TO Philadelphia
about seven weeks ago she had pet, an
ordinary black and white pussy, whose
birthplace was far off beyond the Italian
Alps. The cat was a present to Capt. Won
Hugo, and. had accompanied him on sew
eral voyages 1t Is, moreover, no ordi-
nary tabby, as 1t is the proud possessor
of pedigree and appearance equally re-
markable. Italy is not blessed with many
cats-in fact, they are almost a rarity.
Therefore, to the great cat show held last
year at Florence there were vast crowds
attracted. The mascotte of the Bayonne
was present and carried off big gold me-
dial, which Capt. Won Hugo personally eX-
hibits to visitors-a tribute to the finest
specimen OF feline aristocracy represented
al the exhibition.
While the big oil tanker was loading her
cargo at Point Breeze on the visit men
toned, TO the horror of the captain and
the CONSERVATION of the steward who was
charged with its keeping, the animal dis
appeared the day after presenting to the
ship four beautiful Kittens Well organized
parties searched the tanker from stem 20
stern and thoroughly explored the streets
and wharyes around the OH works. but
all to no avail. Pussy was gone and with
OIL
TO make san without his old companion.
Two days after the Bayonne left the pro-
digal returned. Running down on the
wharf 1t cast anxious glances at the big
bark Sternbeck, which now occupied the
pier formerly held by the Bayonne. Visit
ing in succession every ship in the vicin-
ity, the instinct of the cat forbid il board
ing any OF them, and finally giving up in
despair It casts its lot in the watch box
of Waterman Manly, seemingly reconclled
TO the fact that Ii must await the appear
ance Of the absent Oil ship. During the six
weeks In which the Bayonne was on her
voyage to Savonia, Italy, twenty other
steamers came in and each was carefully
inspected in turn by the abandoned tabby.
Strange to say a survey from a distance
seemed to satisfy the cat. 1t was obvious
that it's former home was not recognized.
At last the Bayonne returned and then
was manifest an unparalleled exhibition
of animal instinct. When the OH ship was
still far down the stream. pussy took her
position on the end of the wharf, showing
by a. thousand antics that the on-coming
craft was the one so anxiously awaited for
so many weeks. Unnecessary to say, per-
haps that the recognition was mutual,
from Capt. Won Hugo on the bridge TO the
big black dog barking on the poop deck,
and there was no need to decry the abb
sence of an enthusiastic welcome. To cap
the climax, when the BayOnne was yet
twelve feet from the pier the cats impa-
thence reached the limit. With one flying
leap 1t cleared the intervening space and
to the surprise of the cheering crew ran
directly to the place where her kittens were
formerly domiciled. The latter We're still
on board and in few moments the happy
family were again united.
Capt. Won Hugo will now have a pic
ture painted of his celebrated pet, which
will ornament his private cabin, and on his
return home will have the strangest of all
tales to relate TO his family and friends
concerning the phenomenal instinct of pus-
sy, which has already become well known
a he home