NY Harbor police rescue a black cat hanging on for life on the rudder of a steamship. He was taken aboard the police boat to recuperate but was not warmly greeted by Fanny. Fanny was another cat who had made the boat her home when it was being repaired at the Erie Basin docks two weeks earlier.

Transcription of article: The New York Times, September 20, 1904

CAT ESCAPES WATERY GRAVE.

 Capt. Dean of the harbor police was congratulating himself last night over the rescue of a big black cat by a crew of his men. He added the feline to the crew of the police boat Patrol as a mascot. It was shortly after the dinner hour yesterday -when Roundsman Harry Dolbert and Policemen Robinson and Van Tassel, who had been up the North River on patrol, went to Pier A, at the Battery, in their rowboat. 

Dolbert saw the cat clinging to the rudder of the steamboat  J. S. Warden, which was moored at Pier 1.  Already eight of his lives had apparently been sacrificed in its effort to get a foothold.  Dolbert steered the boat over and Policeman Robinson grabbed the cat, which was taken into the galley of the Patrol, where it was fed on hot milk and chicken. Then the feeble feline was taken below to the boiler room, where it was dried out. 

About this time Fanny, another black cat which  had made the boat her home while it was lying up for repairs at Erie Basin docks two week ago, emerged from the coal bunkers and rudely handled the new arrival until it ran up on deck. 

The new cat is called mike, and will live in the forecastle.