The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-21
ANACONDA NEWS.
WAS BORN IN ANACONDA
This City the BIRTHPLACE of the
Cat Terror"
VETERAN OF THE LATE WAR
The Cat Is the Ofhcal Rat Killer and
Mascot of the Monitor Terror What
T. 8. Hamlin Writes in Regard
to the Cats Birth.

According to T. S. Hamlin, Anaconda
has the honor" of being the BIRTHPLACE
of the cat, Terror" the official rat killer
and mascot of the monitor Terror. Tn.
fact was first learned yesterday when the
following letter was received at this Of
fee:
Anaconda, Mont, July 10, 1899.
To the Editor of the Standard-Dear
Sir: / noticed in the Sunday New York
Journal an article which says that the IA
nous cat Terror is descendant of cats
which were born on the Brooklyn, and
write you to tell you that Montana has
the honor of having been the birthplace of
Terror. 1t was born in Anaconda three
years ago and was taken East eight
months later by Hartman Matthews, in
the army or navy, don't know which
Hoping that you will make this correc-
ton, l remain yours truly
'T. S. HAMLIN"
search Of the town was made yester-
day for T. S. Hamln, but this gentleman
could not be found. He is not known in
Anaconda and his name does not appear
in the directory.
The article which was published on Sun
day In the New York journal, and which
is referred to In the above letter. read. as
follows:
Although Commander Ingersol of the
gunboat Annapolis has made the stay of
the cadets and crew in New York pleasant
by allowing as much shore leave as pos
sible, there is one member of the ships
company who is not permitted to land
Tom Terror, official rat killer and mas
cot of the Annapolis, is again in disgrace
and has forfeited all liberty until the COM
pletion of the cruise.
Tom is not in irons, although his Of
fepse-that of attacking an officer-s a
most serious one, but as he is already
branded as a deserter from the Mononga-
hela, he is not given another chance to
cut and rum
Tom Terror is noted figure in the
United States navy and comes from a long
line of naval cats. He was born on cob
dock. Brooklyn navy yard, some three
years ago, and all of his brothers and
cousins are now honorably serving the |
ships of the navy as rat killers and mas
cots.
"One day when the monitor Terror lay at |
the navy yard last spring Tom strolled on |
board, made a careful survey of the quar- |
tiers of the crew, roamed around the quar-
ter-deck, curled himself up on the rug in |
the captains cabin and went to sleep.
He had record of having licked every
otucI cat on COD dock, and since there
were no more cats to fight Tom concluded
to highland eat-for his country
Tom was regularly adopted by the
ships company of the Terror. Full enlist
ment papers were made out, giving him
the rating of rat killer and mascot The
papers were properly filed and Toms sea |
life began.
He saw service in the blockade of Ha- |
vana and participated in his humble ca
pacity in several small naval engagements |
and when the Terror. after whom he was |
named, returned to northern waters, Tom, |
with the rest of the crew, Joined the re- |
ceiving ship Franklin.
From the Franklin he was regularly |
transferred to the gunboat Monongahela. |
Life on board the Monongahela was made |
as pleasant as possible for Tom but alas, |
the tighter was ungra tefu He scratched |
two of the officers, bit one of the men
and exhibited an appetite that bordered |
on gluttony-a sin. not to be tolerated in
the navy or in other walk of life.
Still Tom was loved on board and.
though his shortcomings were duly enter
ed upon the ships papers, he was treated
well.
ION June the Monongahela and the
Annapolis lay side by side at Norfolk
Tom probably heard from the sailors all
about the pleasure cruise the ANNAPOLIS
was to take with the naval cadets on |
board of the social entertainments that
were to add zest to- the voyage; of the trip
to West Point and Newport and Tom
made up his mind 10 desert the Mononga-
hela and join the Annapolis.
: Just before the Annapolis weighed an
Choir message was received by Comman-
der Ingersol from the Monongahela ask
ing whether Tom Terror, a tawny cat,
was on board.
1.-THE commander ordered search The
messenger from the Monongahea looked
dubious, but Saluted and left
THE Annapolis weighed anchor and
started out to sea. The bugle call for sup
per was sounded and up from the depths
of the fo'Castle walked Tom. He climbed
upon 4-inch gun, looked around to see if
the Monongahela was still in sight. and
finding himself safe. staked majestically
TO the bridge and, gazing calmly into
Commander Ingersols eyes, said:
"'Pur-r-r.'
THE gallant commander was almost
overcome with establishment. He knew
that this was Tom Terror. a deserter, but
he couldn't take him back to land so he
did the next best thing-he adopted him as
a member of the ships company.
Tom quickly made friends with the Of
fiCers, the cadets and the crew. He is no
respecter of rank, and insists on making
his own rules. He will sit and purr by the
hour at Lieutenant Commander Bartett's
sids, scratch fun-loving. teasing cadets
and then steal a tempting morsel from the
crews mess.
He is a great ratter and so far has
proved efficient mascot.
"On the books of the Monongahea Tom
is put down a deserter, and may som,
day have to face a court-martial but at |
present he is a happy. careless cat. He |
has but one sorrow There are no other |
cats on the Annapolis with whom he can
fight"