Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-19
PUSsY's WAIT FOR HER SHIP.
Hundreds of Other Vessels Arrived
but She Needed Them Not.

but she Needed Them Not.
An instance Of remarkable sagacity
displayed by a cat in connection with
the oil 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 Atlantic Re
flning Company. 1t is a true story
and is youched for by the crew OF the
Bayonne, the boarding officers and all
others having to do with vessels.
When the Bayonne came to Phila-
delphia about seven weeks ago ii had
a pet, an ordinary black and white
pussy. whose birthplace was far off
beyond the Italian Alps. The cat was
"A present to Captain Won Hugo and
ages. It is, moreover, no ordinary
tabby, as it is the proud possessor of
a pedigree and appearance equally
remarkable Italy Is not blessed with
many cats-in fact, they are almost
rarity Therefore. to the great cat
I
were vast crowds attracted. The mas
cot of the Bayonne was present and
carried off a big gold medal, which
Captain Won Hugo personally exhibits
to visi tors-a tribute to the finest
specimen Of feline aristocracy rep
resented at the exhibition
While the big oil-tanker was load
ing its cargo at Point Breeze, to the
horror Of the captain and the con
sternation of the steward, who was
charged with its keeping, the animal
disappeared the day after presenting
to the ship four beautiful kittens.
Well-organized parties searched the
tanker from stem to stern and
thoroughly explored the streets and
wharyes around the oil works but all
to no avail. Pussy was gone, and
with much regret Captain Won Hugo
was obliged to make sail without his
old companion
TWO days after the Bayonne left
the prodigal returned Running
down on the wharf, ii east anxious
glances at the big bark Sternbeck,
which now occupied the pier formerly
held by the Bayonne. Visiting in sue
cession every ship in the vicinity the
instinct Of the cat forbade il boarding
any of them, and finally, giving it UP
in despair, II cast its lot In the watch
box Of Waterman Manly. seemingly
reconciled 10 the fact that il must
await the appearance Of the absent
oil ship During the six weeks in
which the Bayonne was on its voyage
TO NaVonla Italy twenty other
steamers came in, and each was care
fully inspected in turn by the aban-
doned tabby. Strange 10 say, q sur
vey from a distance seemed to satisfy
the cat. 1t was obvious that its
former home was not recognized
AT last the Bayonue returned and
then was manifest IN unparalleled ex-
hibition of animal instinct When the
oil ship was still far down the stream
pussy took her position on the end OF
the wharf showing by a thousand
antics that the oncOming craft was
the one SO anXiously awaited for so
many weeks Unnecessarily To say,
perhaps that the recognition was mu-
uIdl, from Captain Won Hugo on the
bridge TO the big black dog barking
ON the poop deck and there was no
need 10 denry the absence OF an en-
thusiastic welcome To cap the cli-
max when the Bayonne was yet
twelve feet from the pier the cats
Impotence reached the limit with
one flying leap it cleared the inter-
yeniug space. and, to the surprise OF
,-e cheering crew, ran directly 10
where her kittens were formerly
domiciled The latter We're still on
board and in few moments the
happy family was again united
Captain Won Hugo win now have a
picture painted of his celebrated pet
which will ornament his private cabin.
and on his return home viii have the
strangest of tales 20 relate to his
family and friends concerning the
phenomenal instinct of pussy which
has already become we'll known az the
home port Philadelphia Times