The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-13

appeared lodging about among the
whirling belts and wheels in the ma
chlne room with the greatest GOODNESS.
she ran mp to the man and rubbed
against his leg, purring softly.
See that" he said "she wouldn't go
near stranger, but she's the friend of
every man in the place. She can tackle
rat as big as herself, and the rat new
er gets away when she does tackle him.
She can make a jump down a fight OF
stairs after rat and land plump on his
back. It's sure death for the rat. for
she never misses her spring. She de-
serves gold medal for preserving the
property of the United States govern
ment'
Next to Tom and Minnie, Jerry, who is
official rat catcher in the rigging loft, is
the oldest cat in the navy yard. He has
been there almost seven years A little
over three years ago he was joined by
another cat who responds to the name O..
George Dewey. Up to Jerrys arrivai the
rigging loft was infested by large rats
and an immense number of mice Sail
maker Cowan says that at present the
loft is as free from rats and mice as any
place he has ever been in.
EFFECTED A REFORM.
"You have no idea of the change that
has taken place there" he said "Tha
mice used to be awful. They were SO
bold and fearless that they would come
scampering over our hands while we
were working at the rigging here.
never saw anything like it. I've had
had mice run over my feet and try to
climb up my legs in the middle of the
day, when all the men were working
here, and the place was as noisy as a
boiler factory. It meant a lot more
work for the men, because the damage
they did to the rigging kept some, of us
busy repairing it all the year round''
Jerry is the only cat at present in the
navy yard who has never been on a
cruise. He has been on two trips with
United States fleets. His last was On
board the Monongahela with the Asiatic
squadron. Jerry is in the habit of taking
long trips away from the navy yard on
his own account. About month ago
he was taken away against his will a
considerable distance from the yard by a
workman who tried to domesticata him
at his own home. The cat appeared at
the yard as usual the next day. The
worlxmen declare that he must have
traced his way hack to the yard bv
listening to the tolling of the big bell
there. About once q month Jerry dis
appears. He always returns lust when
the mice are beginning to show them
selves again in the rigging loft. and for
Inc AtISI Lew udS dll6I Ills return he
works overtime
a big black cat presides over the black
smiths shop, but she has not much TO
do there. She appears about once in a.
month, and after killing off any rats or
mice that may have taken refuge thAre
during her absence disappears again for
another month.
Bob Duke, who is EMPLOYED in the con-
struction and repairs department of the
navy yard, is acknowledged to be the
best posted cat fancter in the place. He
has a cat named Jennie, in building No
20, and he asserts she is the most exnart
ratter in existence.
A LESSON IN RAT CATCHING
eve seen cats all over the world" he
said, but I never saw anything that
could hold a candle to Jennie. She litters
every three months, and her kittens have
been taken all over the world bv the
warships they have been presented to.
They are at premium in the navy be-
cause they are saHe such corlxing good
ratters. When theybare little she gives
them a lesson insrate catching every day
at noon.'' eg
"A look of incredulity came over tho
faces of SEINE of his listeners at Bob
Dukes last statement, and he noticed
It, nef}
Come along. : hefgaid. land I'll show