The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-27

A MAN RAT-KuLER-BRUTAL SCENE
AMONG THE FANoY."-Some time since we
were induced 70 visit a rat-matoh in The
The guidance of a 'knowing one" pTomi-
nent in sporting circles, found ourselves in
front of an ordinary looking tavern, three.
story brick house with tail sien-pOst.
On entering the bar-room there was nothing
TO distinguish II from hundred similar places,
except that behind the usual tumbler and
decanter-loaded counter running along one
side OF the room there stood, not hirsute
bartender, but remarkably pretty and modest
looking young girl. Neatly dressed and smll-
ing Lshe presented strange contrast 70 the
vulgar rowdyism by which she was surrounded
IL was painful thought that she must have
had long experience, young as she was, thus TO
encounter unabashed the brutal language and
still more brutal looks of the rufians she served
with drink. The greater part OF the company,
IN the intervals between rbks, crowded around
stove In the middle OF the room-most OF them
could be recognized at glance as sports, gam
pliers, sharpers, and Pumps; there was also a
spr1nkl1ng OF students from the medical colleges,
and one or two officers from q ship.of-war in the
harbor. The proprietor OF the house, "a thick
set Lpglishmen, seemed well acquainted with
my conductor for he not only furnished tickets
Tor our admission TO the coming fight, but
offered to take us up stairs to see his canine
meDagerie. We accepted the offer, and climbed
up to the attic, which smelt badly enough, but
not SO bad as the bar.room. Here there seemed
to be dogs of all sizes, ages, shapes, and hues.
The proprietor produced two or three pet pup
pies for our admiration, dlated on the supe-
rior1ty OF his dogs, and then led us down stairs
again TO the rat-pit which was in the cellar,
probably for security from the attacks OF the
police.
ltwas dark, dirty place: rough plank seats
rose in tiers from the pit in the centre to the
mouldy, snail tracked walls, with here and there
gas-light sticking out in a vain attempt to
enliven the dreary den. The rat-pit itself was
circular, about six feet in diameter, with fence
round IL to keep the rats from jumping out The
W trft dnaf Nnn Cn1t1
soon filled, and then bull-headed little man,
dressed In fighting trim, shorts and tights,
jumped into the ring and informed us that he
was disappointed in the nou-arrival of cee-
brated dog he expected from New York, but in
order that we might not lose our sport, the rats
should be put into the ring, and he would either
match dog of his own against them, or kill
them himself, Just as we pleased. The majority
of the crowd seemed delighted at this, and
howled out request that he would kill them
himself.
A boy then brought in large bag and, hold
ing it by the corners, empted Two dozen big
ship ats out OF 1t into the pit, pretty much in
the style that Professor Anderson shakes out
his egg bag. The unsightly animals ran round
the pit for few seconds, trying to jump over
the fence or find some other mode of escape:
but, failing in this, they collected in big black
ugly masses, with their little eyes shining like
beads. The ratcatCber then jumped into the
pit, and knelt on one knee in the middle OF IT.
confederate stood outside, holding stop
watch, and all al once gave the signal TO begin.
Then came horrible spectacle. Quick as light
nlng the man plunged his hand into the mass OF
rats, s,ized one by the back and carried it to his
mouth-then a squeak and crunch, and the
liieless carcase was tossed aside with broken
neck
As soon as the rats found what was going on,
and that there was no escape for then, they
attacked the man, climbing up on his thighs,
but he was too quick to let them get higher; he
kept both hands busy, and looked as ii he was
magician, pulling constant stream of dead
rats from his mouth. Before as long as it nas
covered with dead bodies. one or two terrided
survivors we're caught and killed, and then,
amid acclamations OF delight from the audience,
the man jumped up, felt his lip, which had been
between his teeth, and washed away the taste
with glass of liquor. Such description needs
no further comment.