The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-22
FOUR CENTIPEDES
IN SHIPS CARGO
SatSuma Also Carries Sac
red Cat of Siam
NARROWLY ESCAPED A MINE
Avoided Russian Cruisers and Will Re-
turn to Japan by Way
of Cape Horn.

NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-The Barber line
steamer. Satsuma, her hold filed with
stuffs from Japan and China. and four
ugly looking fOur-inch centipedes i'm
prisoned in a close barred parrot cage
in the mates room. has reached here
from the scene Of the fighting in the
Far East. All of her crew are Chinese.
though her boatswain, Yin Kow, also a
Tull-blooded Chinaman. although he
scorns TO wear a queue, has the distinc-
tion Of being man without a country.
He mas merchant on the Pacific
Coast and went home on a visit about
two years ago, wearing clothes Of Amer
lean cut. 0igtailless and without his old
faith. He had been shipwrecked and
had lost papers which he says would
have proved his right TO return to Amer
lea as a Chinese merchant
Prosecuted at Home.
After he landed in China his country
men made it so uncomfortable for him
that he took ship TO America, arriving
at this port. He found that the law
would not allow him TO land here to set
Tie, SO he decided to become a sailo.
aboard the ship. the Satsuma, in which
he was then a passenger. He was made
boatswain because of his knowledge of
English. his intelligence. and general
hardness. He thinks now that he Will
stay atiOat until Dayy Jones summons
him 10 serve where there is no dis
tinction on account Of pigtails. His ship
mates do not seem 10 care what the
ship.
When the Satsuma was in the Red
Sea, and while all the hands were sleep
ing on deck I'm hammOcks slung from
4.
up from q hatch partly opened to Venti-
late the cargo. which consisted partly
OF gambler, mating, nrecTackers. cork
WOOD, curios and large quantity Of
rattan, the hold having got even too
warm for their tropical temperament.
Scraping Steel Deck.
The decks of the ship are steel. and
on placid night the least sound on
them is heard distinctly above the meas
ured throbbing of the engines. The
men in the hammocks heard the scam
pering OF the big venomous bugs across
the polished deck. sounding ike the
roll call Of distant drummCrs The
Chinese recognized the tattoo. and not
knowing which hammock the CcntiDedes
might climb into they got down in a
hurry and decided TO ca pture sEe bugs
II was clear moonlight and the men had-
little trouble, with the aid OF sticks. in
rounding up the quartet. one got away
from its captor and bit him in the left
arm before II was rec2pJuTed- The arm
swelled TO twice its normal size. and the
man was III for a week.
The parrot was taken from it's cage
and the four bugs We're put in it's place
They are too stout 70 get through the
space between bars and do not seem
anxious 10 leave their prison anyhow.
They will be sold cheap the mate SAYS:
The first thing the Chilamen did ar
ter receiving their pay for the voyage
. rrn~ On
deck and begin a game OF keno. They
were at IL until the sun went down. and
the mate says. win resume IL again as
soon as they have leisure, and Will con-
time until one Of che men has all tn
money Then they will 20 back to China
ana earn enough 20 play another game.
Sacred Eat of Siam.
Besides the centipedes and the parrot
the Satsuma has the sacred cat of King
Chulalongkorn Of Siam on board. For
this cat a reward of $1,000 IS outstaud-
ing
Chief Officer Hodges. the guardian Of
Siamese Jane" says there would De
high dOings in the Siamese Kings court
II X were known that his precious pet
has brought into the world five more
sacred cats. all OF which are enjoying
perfect health and may be seen any DAY
gambOing on the deck Of the Satsurna
1t was just this way" said the chief
oncef, and don't want you TO doubt
4of moment anything l am about 10
tell you, for the whole story Is as true
- the stars. and the records are on
nle IN Siam 20 prove IT,
we left Hongkong on June II and
arrived at Singapore on the 25th we
old not dock at Singapore but anchor
ca IN the -harDOr. and received our
cargo from lighters and junks.
Looking FOR the Cat
We noticed at the time that q Lot ~
government vessels were about cIosa1,
scrutinizing all the craft in the harbor
especially sdch small vessels and hunks I
as come down the river from Bangkok,
We. Of course. We're interested in tbesa /
strange proceedings, and inquired yybat
II was all about, and were surprised "a [
learn that King ChulaIOngkorn cat WIS /
missing. and that big reward was ~ 4
tered Tor her return and the capture of I
her abductOrs
The Satsuma was simDlv oyer-r,,, /
with rats al that time. ard W.. were IN, I
the lookout Tor good cat. and did p.f
care whit whether she belonged 10 tba I
sacred or every day tramp species II
was little before shutdown. and we
We're getting ready TO sail. waen "a funk I
came alongside and a Chinanan asked 4
Us n we wanted a fine cat We reuIied I
that we did. and asked him whaf be
wanted for IL. He said 30 cents. and
when We agreed 10 the terms he climbed /.
on board with her At glance [ saw I
that II was no ordinary cat. and asked .
the Chinaman where he got her Then
ne took me aside ana asked me for the \
sake Of all the Chinese delties To keen
quiet