The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-25
THE COMMODORE"
LOSES HIS LOG
Pathetic DEATH of Naval Of
ficers' Accomplished Pet
Parrot.

Perched above e riano in the Officers
club in the New York navy yard is al
that remains of The Commodore, a nota-
bic parrot, and to naval officers the best
known pet in the United States service.
To the regret of officers from Brooklyn
to Iloilo The Commodore went aloft a
few days ago at an unknown age and yes
terday his stuffed body was exhibited in
an artistic glass case.
Because of his advanced age he APP
pears in decollete uniform. But, some
thing like Poes raven.
There he sits, mute musical
Him they call The Commodore.
Bird or angel, who can answer?
Spiked his guns for evermore.
Ten years ago this parrot few into the
club through an open window.
The officers We're at mess, and the Wis
itor, calmly housing his yards, perched al
the head of the table and began address
ing them Familiarity as "BilP' and "Old
Tarpaulin." Apparently his early educa-
ton had been neglected in the glory hole
of some man-O f-War.
But the officers took a liking to the
stranger and he was put on the ration list.
Later he was always introduced to dis
tinguished visitors when they presented
their cards In this way he had met Ad-
mlral Dewey Rear Admiral Coghlan,
repeat quotations from each, and he was
highly accomplished in the terse sayings
of Fighting Bob" Evans. Two of his
pet performances We're to recite What
did Dewey do to emp and "Therell
! be hot time!" which latter he always
gave when the visitors asked for the ma
tional anthem
In naval matters his knowledge. because
of his confidential position, was dark and
peculiar. In fact, when he opened all his
batteries the visitor listened in amaze
ment.
Commander Arthur B. Speyers who was
formerly stationed at the yard, became a
great friend of The Commodore'S Com
mander Speyers had a chronic cold which
the parrot used to initiate to perfection
in gutteralS.
The steward at the club had child who
was teething. On nights when all the Of
ficers used to gather on the club porch the
most unearthly childlike cries would be
heard 1t was only after the steward s
child had been removed that the officers
found the parrot had been playing a joke
on them with infantile shrieks.
Recently The Commodore caught cold
While greeting Read Admiral Bowles from
the porch of the club Acute asthma de-
for three days. The surgeons saw that his
| case was hopeless. His old age told
against him. All the officers gathered
when the bulletin went out on the dog
watch that The Commodore was sinking.
As the. end approached they gave him
some whisky to make him feel more spir-
ftual.
On sofa he lay to on his beam ends.
with his yards reefed. His mind seemed
to go back to the incidents of his long
life. He had not lived according to the
salvation Army code. Messman Edward
Ryan, his valet, bent over him to catch
his last words. The dying birds mind
wandered.
Don't have no awkward squad fire over
me. How goes the fight? Two sunk Rah!
Tell Coghlan to give it to EN-" Then
his maintop wabbled
Kiss me, Hobson," said the Commo-
dore, winking his binnacles
Steward Bohne, who is a good man,
bent over.
"Whither?" asked Bohne. grasping him
by the BOOM
"Quien sabe?" said The Commodore. as
he lost his log.-New York Herald