Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-10


~ "Perezosa' plump black and white tabby whose
v Lazy" Is said to be the most indoent
feline in all South America.
During her whole seafaring career Perezosa has
been known TO take unnecessary step exert the
slightest effort unless essential to her comfort And
by recently doing nothing at all and doing we'll she has
saved 6250 900 pesos. 5000 600 the Esrella
Navigation Company Of Valparaiso.
"Perezosa" says Captain Agosto Fuentes tho skipper
of the Perla del Sud her proud owner has indicated
faith in her She the smartes cat in the world be-
cause she knows how to do nothing superbly."
All Of which may sound like doublealk until the facts
known. According to the ships log Perezosa
signed at her home port of Valparaiso September 10th
1899 as Able Bodied Mouser and Ratter. about one
year, known dependents, wages two fish per diem.
The cat promptly ignored her quarters in the forecase
and moved into Captain Fuentes' cabin sleeping there at
night and in the chartroom during the day
Within week. the skipper had TO make another entry
into the log changing Perezosas Able Bodied
Mascot First Glass not only because
she lazy but protective disappear
the side dark night Perezosas fragrant Sinking
Of her duty the ennity Of officers and alike
The skipper ignored the complaints Of the
rodents were getting 50 bold in the forecasue that
they were putting up their hammocks II the
wanted another cat for the right with
him But Perezosa the official and she was
bringing the ship luck.
desperation, the did make two attempts to sign
good mouser But both instances the cats became
Perezosas worshipful having the cap
taTs patronage however they were discharged for ne
ficiency
one stormy night recently however Pcrezosa's luck
appeared to play out at last and rerbuton
to catch up with del sud was beating north
ward from Valparaiso bound for Callao Peru cargo
OF heavy mining machinery The freight had been late
arriving at the dock and the evedore had hury-up
job of loading During the night the del Sud
pitched and tossed the forward cargo broke loose
Captain Fuentes hove the ship 10 while his crew made
valiant attempt the punging machinery II was
impossible job decided 20 rig anchor and
ride the daylight While this was being
done the ship suddenly caught by a great
wave and another took terrific batterng both
from without and within began to leak badly settle
Early in the morning as the storm abated Captain Fucnoq
with two badly injured men aboard. decided TO abandon
ship Officers and took TO three eboats began
to row towards san Pedro Point. 30 miles away.
In the excitement Of abandoning ship considerable time
elapsed before Captain Fuentes realized that his pet
wasn't in any Of the three feboats He
quietly and kept his tongue in check when mon
made several sighting remarks about the fenes potency
for warding off bad luck
The injured hospitalzed in Taltal and tho
others sent back 20 Valparaiso where for few days
Captain Fuentes brooded melancholy silence Then
his employers received word that
del Sud had been savaged by big tug that was en- route
Caao had towed her into Fatal For the moment
Captain Fucntes happy that Perezosa alive that
he didn't hear the rest of the The Of the
demanding salvage from the Esrella Navigation Com
pany TO the tune of $4,000 pesos
Such amount said Senior Tomas the president would
wreck the company And for Captain Fucnte well he
Senior Tomas would never get snip again
With mingled feelings Captain Fuentes went back TO
Taal to reclaim his pet Perezosa azly glad 10
him as member Of the salvage tug over
The cat tugboat had never left Captain
cabin until the Perla del Sud had been tied up
a dock Suddenly the skipper had an inspiration Are
you Of that he asked eagerly
"Of am" answered the tugboat man curiously
why do you ask"
"Oh it doesn't matter" said Captain Fuentes happily
and off important wire to his employer
other day the Estrella Navigation Company settled
with the tugboat firm for the OF 25OO0 which the
allowed towing charges The claim of $4,000
thrown out because the Pera del Sud
was a derelict without living creature
aboard Perezosa was very much alive even II asleep Nv
remaining board she had protected the Estfea Navga
ton Companys property rights and justified Captain
Fuentes faith in her mascot.