Middletown transcript., 1898-11-12
THE MAINE,s MAsCoTs.

Mrs. Charles D. sigsbee, wife of the |
of tire aMaine," writes OF
''Pets in the Navy" in the November
s.. Nicholas. Mrs. Sgsbee says:
Almost everybody has heard OF
.sTom, . the cat that was found on the
Of the "Maine' after
the expulsion. Tom was wounded in
one foot, anu was doubtless feeling
very bur indeed, with his favorite
sleeplng-place destroyed, no friendly
hands to minister to his wants, and |
nothing but water and ruin on every
side! How glad lie must have been TO
hear voice that lie knew, and to be
taken Oh board the U. S. s. "Fern,o = in
Havana harbofl A few days after, he
was placed upon chair to have his
picture taken. This chair was large
wicker armchair which was saved
from the wreck of the Maine. Tom
sat in it and tried to look pleasant. as
the photograph told him. He felt
peaceful, his foot was well, he had just
eaten his favorite meal of fish, and the
first pose was success. A second was
attempted. Tom was almost asleep,
and looking very happy, when "Brul-
SER" the Ferns dog,-a big, rough
fellow with loud bark and sharp
white teeth,-came near. Tom arched
his back like contortionist at
circus. His LaiI swelled and the fur
stood out til it seemed twice its natural
size; and 50 the second picture was
taken.
Tom is quite a navy cat. He was
brought on board the "Maine" by an
officer who took him from the U. ). 5.
"Minnesota"w lie had been l don't
know how long. If Tom is still on
boari ship, he must feel very frighten-
ed when the big guns are fired, and l
fear his tail will become permanently
large, and his back continual bow!
| However, Bruiser left the q. 5. >.
"Fern" after while, and appeared on
board the 'St. Paul." at Philadelphia.
He was plucky, lively fellow, full OF
fun, and no respector of persons. lie
would just as soon rush into the cap
tain's cabin as into the galley. Poor
Bruiserl He was only cur, although,
while be was a puppy, he concealed his
pleb4an pedigree. In short time,
however, he showed his cur-like qua
lities, and was sent on shore.
| You have heard Of ''Peggie," the
pug-dog on the U. S. S. Maine when
she was blown up. Peggy is now at
Key West. She is pretty little dog
She was tiny puppy when first given
to the captain OF the Maine, little
more than year ago, and was very
full of fun aud mischief. She always
slept in the cabin, and amused herseli
by worrying" any shoes she found,
and dragging about anything she could
as most puppies do. She always follow
ed the captain everywhere, no matter
how many steps and ladders were to be
i climbed. This caused her to break hel
leg, one day. The leg was PIT il
splints; but Peggie could not keeI
stifl enough to have it knit properly, sc
when she was well III is leg was little
shorter than the others.
/ Peggie was very fond of rushing a
the Waste-paper basket and dragging
out the contents. She would whine ant
cry in very funny way when sh'
Icould not get them out. She regarded
with great suspicion any one in civilian
dress coming on board the Maine, ant
barked at all who were not in uniform
She could turn a somarsault IL yot
! held her head down second.
One day she came into the cabiI
with chicken bone sticking out of ont
side of her mouth, and pretty mas
| turtium blossom in the other side. Sh
J looked 50 cute that | wish ! had tE
picture to show you. Que ear stuel
up and the other lay down, giving he
very comical expression. She knew
) Just what she wanted to do. Layin
the fl3wer carefully down in one corne
she took the ne into another and pre-
ceeded to eat ii. After the bone ha
been disposed Of, she took the flower !
er mouth again, AID finally left it q
D the captains feet.
3 Once she was taken driving at Ke
, West, and while the carriage was !
v motion, she jumped out Of the vehI
Gle on one side and into it at the 0thel
! until the person she Was with feare
, she would break all her legs. Aftel
ward she thought the horses tails Wer
i meant especially for her to play will
. so over the Dashboard 10 bite the tail
n and down under the horses feet, ST
d went. But she was not hurt, and SOC
r sprang into the carriage again.