ONE FATALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 8

ONE FATALITY.

"AUSSIE," THE SHIP'S CAT. ' SEVERAL RESCUE ATTEMPTS. Survivors of the" Niagara disaster, and particularly members of the crew, are mourning the loss of "Aussie," the ship's cat, which many believed had been rescued. "Aussie," a half J Persian, about two years old, was a great favourite with all on board, passengers and crew alike. He was born on the Niagara and went down with her. Several members of the crew made efforts to rescue him, and some of them at times had him in their arms. "Aussie," however, was terrified and strayed away when released owing to the attention of the men being required for more urgent work.

At Hie Niagara's ports of call "Aussie" was always first ashore, but, though at times' 3;e wandered far making social calls, he never missed a trip. In discussing the cat's fate.a, member of the crew lamented the fact*' that there was not a sack handy when the crisis came aboard ship, for then it would have been possible,' he averred, to have saved the pet." He added that "Aussie" seemed to sense some danger and was up and about before the explosion occurred. This member of the crew declared that there is no possibility of the cat living hny of his other nine lives. He dcfiriitely went down with his ship, and was the only fatality.