New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
GOATS CAPTURED THE SHIP.
THEY ATE MOST OF 1T IN a 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
perence OF Mr.. Pryor the pioneer cattle trader.
who was the first to arrive in Havana HarbOr
with a shipload of cattle Immediately after the
raising Of the blockade.
Mr.. Pryor came from Texas. and finding n
ready market for his cattle he wired his agents
at Galveston of his success. Now. it seems that
upon the outskirts of Galveston. whore there
had been an accumulation OF old stoYepipeS ami
tcmato-cans for many years, there thrived great
numbers Of goats. happy thought struck the
Galveston agents. The people in Havana were
starving, cattle were expensive, and here weto
goats by the hundreds that could be obtained
for mere song Why not ship them to the
starving people of Havana?
Immediately a message was sent over Che
cable to Mr. Pryor asking him if he could sell
goats as well as cattle. The catteman. eated
by his success and feeling sure that goats would
fill a long-felt want in this devastated Isle. i'm
mediately replied to his agents instructing them
to ship load at once.
The Galveston agents procured ship and
began gathering up all the goats about Calves
ton. The captain of the ship said he liked goats
pretty we'll. had plenty Of room aboard his ship,
and the agents could begin driving the goats on
board whenever they chose.
The goats were herded and chased down one
Of the city streets friskinC their tails and gam
boiling about in great glee. Reaching the ship
they climbed on board like Old sailors. Some
went into the rigging. some down into the hold
while others climbed on top Of the whcehousc
or out upon the bowsprit The capacity Of that
ship for goats seemed incXhaustble until about
two thousand goats haG been accommodated
1t was not till the captain put 10 sea that
his troubles be gan. The goats were hungry.
and after eating up all the hay which had been
shipped for their benefit. and finding neither
tomato cans nor StOvepipcs upon which to re
gale themselves they began chewing up The
rigging. The aotain threw empty beer-bottcs
at them till his supply Of beer was exhausted,
and then he cursed the goats and the men VINO
sent them into the deepest depths OF the SEA.
But his troubles had only just hcgun.
The goats got familiar with the sail0rs,
climbed into their hunks, chcwed up their quilts.
got away with their tobacco and occasionally
swallowed a sou wester or n boot. The sailors
finally got mad and began throwing the goats
overheard whenever they got chance. until
finally a big billy climbed into a sleeping Sal
or's bunk ana looked down upon him reprOach
fully The sailor woke up with a start. and
afterward told his mates that after that look
he would never throw another goat overheard.
Arriving in Havana Harbor Mr. Pryor greet
ed the captain. and at once began TO make a.
rangements to have his goats landed. bat, alas
ii was found that the Custom House authorities
demanded 81 30 duty on each goat. Mr. Pryor
made untirinS efforts to get his goats admitted
into the island upon more liberal terms. hut al
his work in this direction proved OF little aVaL
In the time the ship lay IDLY IN inc
harbOr. the goats continuing to chew UP the
rigging and sails. But they got the yellO"
fever. and about four hundred of them died
At last Mr.. Pryor finding the Spanish officials
inexorable. ordered the ship and the goats back
to New-Oreans. About this time anothfr
American trader. by the name of Blum arrived
with a cargo Of onions and. finding the dutfs
worth more than tho onions. be ordered the
cargo taken outside Of the barbor and dumped
overheard The onions nOated and formed
| great mass resembling a floating island.
Then the ship with the goats left the harbo'
and a happy thought struck the captain. il
| those goats didn't get anything to eat there
would be no rigging left on that ship at the end
| of the voyage SO the captain hove to, and q
| goat in the crosstrees spying the onions, th'
! fragrant smell Of which all the other goat.
! were shifting tumbIed down on the deck. climOeo
upon the rail and jumped upon the floating ISL
] ard Other goats followed. and soon the island
was disappearing down the ravenOus maws o.
| sixteen hundred goats.
II was not long before the island had entirely
| disappeared Then the goats Clambered bacf
! aboard ship again and the voyage was con
tir,ed TO NeT- Orleans. Thanking God that M
I had once more reached Christian country
/ where no obsolete laws prevailed. the caitali
steered straight into the great MISSISSIPPI II
WAS boarded by the officers at the quarantine
! station and to his great disappointment an'
| disgust notified that he could not proceed any
further. as his goats were infected with yello'
| fever.
This was the last straw that broke the cap
| tain's patience and calling up his crew. n
armed them with belayng-pi pins and marlInG
| spikes and began to maui the goats up an'
down the deck till they were glad 20 JUMP over
board and take refuge on an island. Accord
ing TO last reports the goats were still frskinl
| about on the island. which has since h"ci
named Goat Island. but it is understood that
| petition is before Congress to rename the Isl
| Nd pryOr Island