Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1901 — Unlucky Names. [ARTICLE]

Unlucky Names.

Juliet’s “What in a name?” might be asked regarding the vessels of the British navy which have borne the names of reptiles. It is said that four Vipers have been wrecked, the last of the name but recently, and a Cobra, still more lately, has broken in two and gone to the bottom with officers and men. Also four Serpents, three Lizards, two Snakes, one Alligator, one Crocodile,one Rattlesnake,one Basilisk and two Dragons, which are not reptiles, have at various times met with disaster. British tars, it is said, have a superstitious feeling of dislike against sailing in vessels bearing such names. Lucky or unlucky, the names are needlessly disagreeable.