By Press Release
The Isle of Wight Observer published on 3rd July 1858 included the following story under the heading of Naval Reminiscences. In folklore, it was believed that pigs could see the wind, as referenced in Lord Byron’s epic poem Don Juan. It was also thought they were able to forecast the weather and hear the grass growing.
BY W. F. WOLFE.
CAN PIGS SEE THE WIND? – That they do possess that extraordinary faculty was believed by sailors of the old school, and not by forecastle Jack only, but by his officers, Her Majesty’s ship _______, while in India, was commanded Captain O’Bryan, and by a singular coincidence the First Lieutenant was of the same name. Both were natives of Erin’s beautiful isle, and though both hailed from the north of it, there was no relationship – that is, there was no acknowledged consanguinity, — and they most cordially hated each other.
That such a state of things must be very disagreeable on board a ship, the reader, if a sailor, must be well aware; indeed, so cautious was the first lieutenant that though a man of quick temper, it was a saying of his brother officers, that “Paddy O’B never answers the skipper when spoken to, but he looks at his words before he speaks them”. The second dog watch was called, and Lieut O’B. had just taken charge of it. Capt. O’B. dined at 3 o’clock, and had just ascended the ladder leading from his cabin to the quarter-deck.
The usual salutation – that is, the touch of the hat – had been exchanged, but nothing more. The captain walked to the weather gangway, and saw – or fancied that he saw —an approaching squall, and turning sharply round, and in his quick way of speaking, addressed his second in command in the following words:- “Lieut. O’Bryan: can’t you see the wind?” and received most deliberately in answer, accompanied with a respectful touch of the hat, the following:— “Capt. O’Bryan, do you think I’m a pig?”
