The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-16

rv thought struck the Galveston agents
The people in Havana were starving
cattle were expensive, ana mere were
goats by the hundreds that could be oo-
tanned for q mere song. Why not snip
them to- the starving people OF havana.
Immediately "a message was sent over
the cable TO Mr. Pryor asking him II he
could sell goats as well as cattle Inc
c.atIlu.au. eated Dy h.s success, ana
feeling sure chat goats would 900 a long
felt want in mis- devastated islo, imme-
oiuteiy replied to his agents ms'tuctns
them to- ship a. load at once.
The Galveston agents procured ship
and began gathering mp an the so"ts
about Galveston. Tho captain of me fhlp
said me liked goats pretty we'll had pIen-
IS OK room aboard his ship. ana tie
agents could begin driving the goats on
board whenever they chose
The goats were herded and chased
down one of the city streets, trisNns
their tails and gambOing about ln great
glec. Reaching the snip. they cliTbed
on board like old sailors. Some Went in
TO the rigging. some down into the hold,
while others climbed on top Of the
wheelhouse or out upon the bOwsprlt.
The capacity OF that ship FOR goats
seemed ineXhaustible until about 1900
goats had been accommodated
10 was not tin the captain put 20 sea
that his troubles began. The goats We're
hungry, and after eating up all the hay
which had been shipped for their ben
eft. and finding neither tomato cans nor
old stove-pipes upon which % .egale
themselves they began chewing up the
rigging The captain threw empty beer
bottles az them tin his supply Of beer
was exhausted. and then he 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 sail
ors. climbed into their hunks chewed up
their quilts. got away with their tobacco,
and occasionally swallowed sou wester
or a boot The sailors finally got mad
and began throwing the goats overheard
whenever they got 4 chance, until mn
ally a big billy climbed iato a sleeping
sailors bunk ana looked down upon him
reoroachfully The sailor oke Ip with
q start. and sfterward told his mates
that after that look he would never
throw another goat overheard.
Arriving in Havana harbor, Mr.. Pryor
greeted the captain and at once began
To make arrangements TO have his goats
landed. but alas. ii was found that the
custom house authorities demanded $3.50
duty on each goat Mr.. Pryor made I'M
into the island upon more liberal terms,
but an his work IN this direction proved
of little avail.
In the meantime the ship lay idly In
the harbor the goats continuing 10 chew
the rigging and sails. But they got the
yellow fever and 400 Of them d'ed
At last Mr. Pryor. finding The Spanish
officials inexorable, ordered the ship and
the goats back to New orleans About
This time another American trader by
the name Of Blum. arriving with cargo
OF onions and finding the duties worth
more than the onions. he ordered tie
CARGO taken outside o. tho harbOr and
dumped overheard. The onions noated
and formed a great mass resembling a
floating island.
Then the ship with the goats left the
harbor and a happy thought struck the
captain. II those goats didn't get any,
thing 10 eat there would be no rigging
left on that ship at the end OF the voy-
acc. So the captain hove 10. and goat
In the cross-trees spying the onions, the
fragrant smell OF which all the other
goats were shifting. tumbled down on the
deck. climbed upon the rail- ana jumped
upon the floating island. other goats
followed and soon the island MAS dlsap-