Owney’s passport around the world

In 1895, Owney, the U.S. mail clerks’ dog, set off around the world with a bag of medals. He sailed from Tacoma on August 19 aboard the Victoria. At Yokohama, officials stared at the decorated traveler and issued him a passport under the mikado’s seal, granting him freedom to travel within Japan. Owney completed the circuit in 132 days, a dog with a passport traveling faster than most people of his day, as Holder put it.