Savannah Georgia The Morning News with the story of Owney

Savannah Georgia The morning news July 12, 1896, Page 14
This page includes an article on Owney the Dog's around the world travels in 1896-97.

“OWNEY” ON HIS TRAVELS.
The Famous Albany Postoffice Dog
and His Voyage to China.
Charles F. Holder, in St. Nicholas.
On Aug. 19, 1895, Owney was photo-
graphed, walked up the gang plank of the
good ship Victoria of the N. P. S. S. Co.,
and was welcomed by Capt. Panton,
whose guest he was to be. Owney had
his credentials In a traveling bag, and he
carried also his blanket, brush and comb,
his medal harness for full dress, and let-
ters of introduction to the postal authori-
ties of the world. As the steamer backed
out from the dock, hundreds of people
waved their hands, and wished Owney a
safe and prosperous voyage; and so the
trip began.
Owney was soon the pet of the crew,
and after an uneventful voyage he ar-
rived at Yokohama on Oct. 3. Here his
baggage was examined, with no little
curiosity, by the officials, as no dignitary
had before entered Japan who owned so
many decorations that he was obliged
to carry them In a bag.
It was concluded that Owney must be
either a dog of very -high rank, or the
property of a distinguished person; and
an account of him was promptly forward-
ed for the information of his imperial
majesty, the mikado.
A few days later an official waited upon
Owney, and presented him with a pass
port bearing the seal of the mikado. It
was addressed to tho American dog trav-
eler, and in very flowery language extend
ed to him the freedom of the Interior
country. There .were some stipulations
which, in all probability, Owney would
have agreed to had he made the trip.
Some were as follows: “The bearer Is ex-
pressly cautioned to observe in every par-
ticular the directions of the Japanese gov-
ernment printed in Japanese characters
on the back of the passport, an English
translation is given herewith; and he is,
expected and required to conduct himself
in an orderly and conciliatory manner to
ward the Japanese authorities and peo-
ple." The passport also forbade him to
“attend a fire on horseback,” warned him
not to write “on temples, shrines or
walls,” and politely requested him not to
“drive too fast on narrow roads.”
There was no time for side trips, and.
after meeting many officials, Owney sail-
ed from Yokohama, arriving at Kobi on
Oct. 9, where he received medals and a
new passport from the emperor. He was
at Maji Oct. 19, Shanghai Oct. 26, and Foo
Chow Oct. 31, where also he received
more medals and was the subject of an
ovation. His fame had proceded him, and
at the later port he received an invita-
tion to visit the United States ship De-
troit, which was lying In the harbor. One
day the marine at the gangway of this
fine man-of-war was astonished to see a
bemedaled, shaggy dog come up the lad-
der, wagging his tall and showing all the
delight that a patriotic American should
at the sight in foreign lands of the stars
and stripes. The marine almost laughed
as Owney stepped aboard and ran up to
the officer of the deck as though he had
known him all his life.
From Foo Chow Owney sailed to Hong
Kong, where he was unfortunately de-
layed and prevented from making a speed
record around the world. He visited the
consulate, made a round of visits to the
rich tea and silk merchants, and receiv-
ed many curious pieces of Chinese money,
which were strung to his collar. From
the emperor of China, Owney received a
passport bearing the royal crest and dra-
gon, permitting him to travel In the coun-
try. But Owney did not go beyond the
city, and so much red tape was employed
on his departure by the Peninsular and
Oriental steamer that Capt. Panton of
the Victoria finally decided to take the
dog-traveler back to Kob-, Japan, from
which port he finally sailed to New York
as the guest of Capt. Grant of the steamer
Port Phillip.