Adventures of the Blackgang
Thalassophilia, Nautical History, Culture, and Art
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October 1910, aboard the steamship Trent off Bermuda
Melvin Vaniman, first engineer aboard the hydrogen airship America, with the tabby cat mascot of their ill-fated attempt at the first air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. (orig. from www.shorpy.com)
Wellman airship “America” seen from Trent 1910
Oct. 15, 1910. “Wellman airship seen from Trent.” Walter Wellman’s hydrogen dirigible America just before being abandoned by its crew near Bermuda, 1,370 miles into an attempt to cross the Atlantic from New Jersey. Its engines having failed, the America drifted out of sight, never to be seen again.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_(airship) - From www.shorpy.com
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HMAS Sydney (D48) - a Leander-class light cruiser launched in 1934, and sunk following an engagement with the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran on 19 November 1941. The wreck was rediscovered in 2008 (+)
Ship’s mascots on HMAS Sydney 1940 by Australian War Memorial collection on Flickr.
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WAR VETERAN-Pooli, who rates three service ribbons and four battle stars, shows she can still get into her old uniform as she prepares to celebrate her 15th birthday. The ship’s cat served aboard an attack transport during World War II.
The Royal Navy banned cats and other pet animals from all ships on the ocean in 1975 on hygiene grounds. (bastards!)
Publication date: July 4, 1959 - Los Angeles Times photographic archive, UCLA Library
Tiddles, the ship’s cat of HMS VICTORIOUS, at his favourite station on the after capstan, where he can play with the bell-rope. Tiddles now serving on board HMS VICTORIOUS as Captain’s cat, has spent his whole life on board aircraft carriers. Born on the high seas on board HMS ARGUS he has 30,000 miles to his credit.
Perce Blackburow with Mrs. Chippy (Ship’s cat on the 1914 Endurance expedition)
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Prime Minister Winston Churchill encounters a ship’s cat. He restrains Blackie, the mascot of HMS Prince of Wales, from joining an American destroyer, while the ship’s company stand to attention during the playing of the National Anthem.
Atlantic Conference August 1941
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“Six Bell Sleeper”
USS Wyoming mascot, circa 1915
From Beauty and the Beast: Human-Animal Relations as Revealed in Real Photo Postcards, 1905-1935
(via mudwerks)
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