The Lincoln times., 1955-03-31
BY THE STAFF

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EDITORS NOTE: POstmas-
ter Victor Fair, always a post
office booster, was intrigued
with the following story, which
appeared in the April issue of
Postal Service News, and asked
that it be passed on to Lin
cOlnton readers. The Times is
happy to introduce you to Own
ey. now stuffed and on display
in the Smithsonian Institution.
A dog, homeless and hungry and
shivering from cold. one day crept
into the Post Office at Albany.
New York. The clerks were very
busy and did not notice him. so he
huddled on a pile of mail bags and
fell asleep.
The next day the mail clerks
found him. They felt sorry for the
dog and did not have the heart to
drive him out into the cold again,
for he had such a wiStful look in
his eyes and such a pleading Wag
to his tail So when lunch time
came. the clerks shared their lun-
ches with him and it may have
been that which started the dogs
love for the men in the Post Of
flee. and in fact. for all men who
handled the mail for Uncle Sam.
AS the weeks passed, the little
visitor made the post office his
home. AS he did not seem to be-
long to anyone, he was an adopt
ed son. The men named him
"OWney".
If you have ever owned a dog
YOU know how intelligent a dog
sometimes is. Owney was very
intelligent animal. He watched
the mail bags come and go and
seemed to regard them as his
friends. Perhaps it was his Curl
osity that led him to make a trip
with the mail bags. 1t is certain
that he felt safe any place the
bags went and with the men who
handled them. He was often on
trip for several weeks and then he
would return to the Albany post
office.
The mail clerks were afraid
Owney would get lost. They bought
him a collar and on it they plac-
ed his name and address. Then
they fastened a card to the collar
asking postal clerks to attach the
name of any place that Owney
visited.
Ownev very soon started out on
visits all over the United States.
He carried so many tags they
we're too heavy for him. The post
master felt sorry to see him with
such a load. So he had a harness
made and Owney could then take
his tags with him very comfort
aby.
The time came when OWney
went around the world. He was
in the city of Tacoma. Washing
ton, when the mail bags were be-
ing leoded for Japan and China.
When the post office men saw
that Owney surely meant to go a
broad too, they gave him let
ter of Introduction to the postal
people in many parts Of the world.
Then Owney was the guest of the
captain of the ship. He had
glorious trip. With his harness
carrying his tags and medals, he
was a very important passenger
On board. Owney was well receiv-
ed and properly treated ii for
eign countries.
When he arrived in Japan, the
Mikado gave him passport
which bore the seal of the en-
pire. In China the emperor made
him welcome and Owney saw
many of the leading merchants.
Everywhere that Owney went he
was an object of great interest.
He was such friendly and intel
ligent dog that he made many
friends.
OWney landed in New York
from his trip abroad. From there
he crossed the country to Taco
ma. his starting point. He had
been gone Just 1872 days on his
trip.
Owney was the greatest dog
traveller in the world. He had no
homes except the mail sacks on
steamers and mail trains. His
dearest friends were always the
postal clerks. The men with
whom Owney chose to ride were
always regarded as the lucky ones.
It was said that Owney carried
good luck with him, for no acci-
dent ever happened on train
on which Owney was travelling.
It always flattered and pleased
the men wher Owney chose to
travel with them.
When Owney's journeys were
over, it was found that he had
about 200 checks, medals and GER
tificates. The United States Post
Office Department has kept the
tags and a picture of OWney.