The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-04
GOATS CAPTURED THE SHIP.
Disastrous Attempt to Import Them Into
Havana.

From the Times OF Cuba
The notice of the dissolution Of the firm
of Hall, Pryor & Davis, Published in the
Times of Cuba yesterday recalls to mind
the sad experience of Mr.. Pryor, the
pioneer cattle trader. who was the first
to arrive in Havana harDor with a ship
load of cattle Immediately after the rails
ing of the blockade
Mr.. Pryor came from Texas and finding
a ready market for his cattle. he wired
his agents at Galveston of his success.
Now it seems that upon the outskirts of
Galveston, where there had been an ac-
emulation of old stove pipes and tomato
cans for many years, there thrived great
numbers of goats. A happy thought
struck the Galveston agents. The people
in Havana were starving. cattle were ex-
pensive, and here were goats by the hun
dreds that could be obtained for a mere
song. Why not ship them TO the starving
people of Havana.
Immediately a message was sent over
the cable to Mr. Pryor asking him If he
could sell goats as well as cattle. The
cattlen an, elated by his success, and feel
ing sure that goats would nil lOng-felt
want in this devastated isle. Immediately
replied TO his agents instructing them to
ship load at once.
The Galveston agents procured a ship
and began gathering up all the goats
about Galveston. The Captain OF the snip
said he liked goats pretty well, had plenty
of room aboard his ship, and the agents
could be gin driving the goats on board
whenever they chose.
The goats were herded and chased down
one of the city streets frisking their tails
and gamboling about In great glee Reach
ing the ship. they climbed on board like
old sailors. Some went into the rgg .ng,
some down into the mold, while Others
climbed on top of the Wheelhouse or out
upon the bowsprit The capacity OF thai
ship for goats seemed inexhaustible until
about 1900 goats had been accommodated.
IL was not till the Captain put to sea
that his troubles began. The goats were
hungry, and after eating up all the hay
which had been shipped for their benefit,
ard finding neither tomato cans nor Old
stoyepipes upon which 10 Tesdie them
selves, they began chewing up the rig
ging. The Captain threw empty beer
bottles at them till his supply of beer
was exhausted, and then h cursed the
goats and the men who sent them into
the deepest depths OF the sea. But his
troubles had only just commenced.
The goats got familiar with The sailors
climbed into their hunks, chewed up their
quilts. got away with their tobacco. and
occasionally swallowed d sou Wester or a
boot The sailors finally got mad ana be
gan throwing the goats overheard when
ever they got a chance, until finally a
big billy climbed into sleeping sailor
bunk and looked down upon him feprOaca-
fully Inc sailor woke up with a start.
and afterWard told his mates that after
that look he would never throw another
goat over DUdrU.
Arriving in Havana harbor, Mr.. Pryor
greeted the Captain and az once began 10
make arrangements 10 have his coats
landed, but, alas, ii was found thdG thr
custOm-house authorities demanded $3.50
duty on each goat. Mr.. PRYOR made IN
firing efforts 10 get his goats admitted
into the island upon more liberal terms.
but all his work In this direction proved
OF little avail.
IL the meantime the ship lay idly in the
harbOr. the goats continuing % chew the
rigging and sails. But they got the yell
low fever ana 40 Of them died
At last Mr. Pryor finding the Spanish
officials ineXJrable, ordered the ship and
the goats back 10 New Orleens. About
this time another American trader by the
name OF Blum. arriving with cargo OF
onions and finding the duties worth more
than the OniOrs, he ordered the cargo
taken outside OF the harb0r and dumped
overheard. The onions nosted and formed
great mass resembling a floating isl
and.
Then the ship with the goats Jeff the
harbOr and HAPPY thought struck the
Captain. II those goats didn't get any
thing 10 eat there would be no rigging
left Oh that ship az tie end Of the VOy-
AZ - hh4F 'aR%dlk lAt &c To- anu ii EgaLf
IL the eross-ifees spying the onions. the
fragrant smell OF which all the other
goats were smiling, tumbled down On the
deck. climbed upon the rail and jumped
upon the floating island. Other goats fol
lowed and soon the Inland vas disap-
peaTing down the rayenous maws OF six
teen hundred goats.
4; was not long before the island had
entirely disappeared. Then the goats
ciambered back aboard ship again and tie
voyage was continued 30 New Orleans.
Thanking God that he had once more
reached a Christian country where no Oh.
sOlete laws prevailed the Captain sfeered
straight into the great MiF>lssippi He
Was boarded by the officers al the quar-.
sntine station and 20 h's great GIsap-
poinfment and disgust notified that he
could not proceed any farther as his
goats we're infected with yellow fegsr.
This was the last straw that broke the
Captains patience and calling I'D his
crew. hs armed them With Delaying pins
and marliDg spikes and begaa 10 maui the
goats ~ ard down the deck IN they were
glad 20 1sTnp overheard and take refuge
on an isiard- A2eoSiing % last reports The
goats were SUI friEking about on the Isl-
ana. which has since been named Goat
Island. but u Ia understood that = petI-
ton II before Congress 70 rename me lsl-
and Pryor Island
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