The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-22
coLoN'S CAT.
Remarkable Career Of Spanish
Cruisers Mascot.

IN THE FIGHT AND STAYED TWEEN
TY-slx DAYS ON THEWRECK.
Stuck to the Maria Teresa when She
Was Abandoned and made Cat Is
land SafeIy-Novv in New York.
IN. 7. Sum-
The U. S. S. Vulcan, on returning from
her recent expedition to inspect the wreck
of the Maria Teresa, brought to the
United States Spanish prisoner that has
seen more trouble in proportion to his
size than any individual engaged in the
late war, from Admiral down to coal
passer. He is the cat Ceryera, who be-
longed to the crew of the Christobal
Colon. Cervera is black and white anil
NAL of medium size, fierce of aspect, bus
to his friends gentle in manner. He has
exceeding dignity and no. less apI elite
and lung power.
When Admiral Ceryera's squadron de-
parted from the coast of Spain last sum-
mer, this cat received a volunteer commits
sion as rat destroyer and mascot of the
Colon. He served faithfully and we'll in
both capacities, it is to be presumed. un-
til the morning of July 8, when his sphere
of usefulness became much diminished
by the desertion of the prophetic rodents
from the Inflated ship. In the absence OF
the rats, he turned his undividef atten-
ton to the mascot business, bnt not with
the most satisfactory results In fact ne
poyed dismal failure, though through
no fault of his own. Whether terror at
the sound of the American guns, which
is improbable, or lack of confidence in the
efficiency of his superior officers deprived
him of his influence with the fatss is not
known. Possibly he did not know the
charm which enables Old World pride
and Incompetence to triuiAph over Yam
kee valor, and it may bs that Yankee
gunnery lis too much for any mascot,
however capable, to contend with. At
any rate. on that morning SO fatal to the
hopes of the Spanish Navy, misfortune
folded not her grimy pinions until secure
~ perched upon the Colon's signal yard,
whence the lamentations and occult
operations of Thomas Ceryera availed
naught to dislodge her. From thu moment
the winches began to creak in preparation
for the final dash out of the Santiago
bottle, Cerveras s services appeared more
in the nature of rank Jonahisrh than any
thing else.
The events Of that day need not be re-
counted. 1t will never be forgotten that
out past Smith Cay. the sunken Merri-
mac, the frowning Moro, and into the
hell that awaited it outside the harbor.
sailed the Spanish squadron. Westward
along the Cuban coast steamed theCristo-
bal Colon at highest speed, in running
the gauntlet of the American guns in
vain effort to escape destruction. After
a chase of sixty miles, finally defeated by
the superior skill Of the Yankees, she
turned her bow toward the shore. Pierce
through and through by the shells from
the American ships, disabled hey ond hope,
she was grounded short distance from
the beach. Every being aboard who was
able to do so plunged into the sea with
the hope of escaping the dreaded ven
geance, excepting Cersera, the cat. lie
alone remained. hidden to avoid capture.
When vessel belonging to the Merritt
& Chapman .Wrecking Company visited
the Colon on July 20, twenty six days
later, he was still there and was taken in
charge by the crew as a prisoner OF war,
after such spirited resistance as he was
able to make Neither tooth nor claw
was dulled, as his captorS can TESTIFY. nor
did his eye shine with diminished lustre.
What the animal subsisted upon during
the twenty. six days he was with the hulk
it is perhaps best not to inquire AS dead
men tell no tales, it Is not possible TO
learn with certainty the nature o. his diet.
Cervera was cared for until o.. ~ by
the wrecking compRny's crew, with whom
he became great favorite. In honor OF
his bravery. they gave him the name ne
now bears.
In the meantime Lieut.. Hobson, like
Columbus at the court Of Spain, had sub
mitted his project to the powers and nad
received permission to bring the MARIA
Teresa to the United States as trophy
of victory. He applied himself TO the WORK
NTH such effect that on Oct. ~ she was
ready for her Northern voyage. Tenn
porary repairs were made in her nun,
leaks were sufficiently stopped, rough
superstructures were erected to take the
place of those which were destroyed by
tire the day she was beached and 6he DIS
abled engineswere made to revolye again.
Hobson's triumph was complete, though
brief. 1t was an unfortunate clrcum-
stance that part of the work OF preparing
the Teresa for the sea was placed IN the
hands of Irresponsible Cubans, q ract
which, some naval officers say, probably
contributed something toward her uiti-
mate loss
Upon her departure from Cuba the cat
was transferred to the Teresa to be
brought to the United States. Mlsfor'
tune, whose services were no longer re-
quired on the Cristobal Colon, now little
more useful than scrap-heap of steel and
iron, followed Cervera over the gangplank
and again cast the shadow of her wing
over that unhappy tomcat. On Nov. l,
the second day of the Teresa's voyage, as
she was being towed northward by the
Vulcan. and the tug S. j. Merritt,
hurricane broke over the consorts Ger
vera's vocal powers ware again challenged
this time by the raging elements. The
bowling of the tempest awoke the demon
within him ami he gave voice to, such
series Of means, howls and shrieks as
only q tiend possessed he-cat is capable of
producing. He rent the air with remon-
srrance and proteststion, but the fury OF
r. $3.50 yfr1I