Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1894 — A Bearded Owl from Cape Horn. [ARTICLE]

A Bearded Owl from Cape Horn.

Morning Oregonian. Capt. Taylor of the Reaper has a large stuffed owl in his cabin which was caught off Cape Horn. The owl could not stand the change of climate, and it weakened and died in the equatorial regions. The ship’s carpenter stuffed it in an artistic manner, and now the bird adorns the Reaper’s after cabin. This owl differs from the rest of its kind in having hair on its face, instead of feathers. The hair very much resembles whiskers, and gives the bird a patriarchal look. The crew tell many stories of the owl’s sagacity and of the tricks they taught it. One night, it escaped from its cage in the carpenter shop, climbing through the window into the captain’s room. and perched on the foot of his bed. When all was quiet on the ship and Capt. Taylor was sound in slumber, the owl began an unearthly screeching. It may be imagined that it created commotion. The bird had never exhibited its voice before, and the watch attributed the yells to some nautical demon who, unbidden, had come aboard the ship. Capt Taylor is not at all surerstitious, but, nevertheless he lost no time in striking a light, and with his revolver in hand he started to investigate. Of course, he very soon found that the bearded fowl was responsible for the rumpus.