Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1894 — A MAN-OF-WAR ROOSTER. [ARTICLE]

A MAN-OF-WAR ROOSTER.

HI» Encounter with the Proud Rooster That He Saw in the Braga Ventilator. Who would think that a rooster could become a great pet on board ship? But on the flagship Chicago, the man-of-war which last spring traveled almost 5,000 miles to get home for the Columbian naval parade, there was a rooster that was the pet of the men on board ship. He was bought in the West Indies, on the way to Montevideo, and was intended for the Christmas dinner; but his great cheerfulness as shown by his hearty crowing in the most unseasonable weather won him bis life.

After his liberty had been given to him and he had become fairly tame he noticed one day another very proud rooster in a polished brass ventilator which stands on the quarter-deck. He immediately put on his proudest air; then, noticing that the other rooster did the same, he stepped closer to inquire, and soon found himself glaring pugnaciously at the other fellow, who seemed quite as defiant as himself. From looks it came to blows, and soon our rooster was indignantly-fighting his own reflection. Occasionally he would strike the ventilator a hard blow with his bill and be thrown back much astonished, only to return to the attack when he noticed that his enemy apparently retreated. This was kept up at intervals for several weeks, until the rooster learn sd that more hard knocks than glory were to be got by keeping up the feud. Even now, after manja months on board, he dccasionally renews the attack, but in a half-heart-ed way, as if he knew he was doing something silly. His name is Dick, and when there is food ahead he answers to it like a gentleman. At Ensenada, in the Argentine Republic, the Chicago lay alongside the dock in the Grand Canal and Dick was allowed to run on shore and pick up what he could find. He never strayed far from the gangway, and would come proudly strutting back when called on board by one of the men. He is a very pugnacious bird, and in Ensenada started a fight between a dog and himself. The combat, witnessed by the whole ship’s company, while productive of no harm to either side, was an amusing sight, and consisted of dashes at the dog with occasional real blows on the part of the rooster and much barking and running about on the part of the dog.—St. Nicholas.