Stowaway Blackborow and handsome Mrs. Chippy, pictured outside the galley of the Endurance, which may explain why Mrs. Chippy was the only one on board to gain rather than lose weight. This photo made in 1914 is the only picture of Mrs. Chippy.
This most honorable Tom is the famous Mrs. Chippy who accompanied Ernest Shackleton and his crew on the Endurance as they sailed from London to the Anartic in 1914. Mrs. Chippy actually belonged to the ship's carpenter whom he followed around like a possessive wife, thus his name-Chippy is slang for carpenter. His "second mate" is pictured with him above. Perce Blackborow was a 19 year old stowaway who was allowed to stay on board and became Mrs. Chippy's devoted companion. Mrs. Chippy was handsome, devoted, good natured, and intelligent according to the crew. As the Endurance became trapped and broken in the ice with the crew spending a year in distress, one crewman wrote that the cat carried on unfazed, and that "Mrs. Chippy's total disregard for the diabolical forces at work on the ship was more than remarkable-it was inspirational. Such perfect courage is alas, not to be found in our modern age." Perce and Mrs. Chippy, two courageous fellows.
