The Shasta courier., 1867-01-05
SH ASIA COURIER.
[ From the New York Herald I
A Human Rat.KilIer.
Pn1IAnr1pur. Nor OH 1e

Some time since we were induced to visit
rat match in the northern portion of Phil
adelphia, and. under the guidance of a
knowing one" prominent in sporting cir
cles found ourselves in front of an ordinary
looking tavern, a three story brick house
with tall sign post We reached this place
after traversing streets and alleys had never
seen before, but from my previous nowledgc
OF that part Of the city | should Judge was
not far from Second and Poplar Streets
On entering the bar room there was nothing
TO distinguish it from hundred similar
places have seen, except that behind the
usual tumber and decanter loaded counter
running along one side of the room there
stood, not hIrsute bartender. but remark
ably pretty and modest looking girl. Neatly
dressed and smiling she presented a strange
contrast to the vulgar rowdysm by which
she was surrounded.
1t was painful thought that she must
have had long experience, young as she was,
thus to encounter unabashed the brutal Ian
guage, and still more brutal looks of the
rufhhns she served with drink. The greater
part of the company, in the intervals between
drinks, crowded round stove in the middle
of the roOm-most Of them could be recog-
niZed at glance as sports, gamblers. sharp
ers and pimps there was also sprinkling
of students from the med cal colleges and
one or two officers from shp.of war in the
harh0r. The proprietor of the house. n
thick set Englishman, seemed well acquaint
ed with my conductor. for he not only fur
nshed tickets for our admission to the com
ing fight, but offered tn take up stairs to
see his canine menaeerie. We accepted the
offer, and climbed up to the attic, which
smelt badly enough, but not so ad as the
bed room Here there seemed to be dogs of
ali sizes, ages, shapes and hues. The pro-
prietor produced two or three pet puppies
for our admiration, dilated on the superiori
ty of his dogs. and then led MS down stairs
again to the rat pit, which was in the cellar
probably for security from the attacks of
the police IL was a dark. dirty place ;
rough plank seats rose in tiers from the pit
IN the centre to the mouldv, snail tracked
walls. with here and there ii gas light stick
ing out ia a vain attempt to enliven the
dreary den. The rat pit itself was circular.
about six feet in diameter, with fence
round it to keep tho rats from jumping out
The bottom wns covered with sawdu-t-
the seats were soon filled. and then a bull
headed lutte man, dressed in fighting trim.
shorts and tights. jumped into the ring and
informed US that he was disappointed in the
non arrival of a celebrated dog he expected
from New York, but in order that we might
not lose our sport. the rats should be put into
she ring. and he would either match a dog of
his own against them. or kill them himself.
just as we pleased. The majority of the
crowd seemed delighted at this. and h0wled
out a request that he would kill them him
self boy then brought in a large bag.
and. holding 1t by the corners. emptied two
dozen big ship rats ont of it intn the pit
pretty much in the style that Professor An
eerson shakes out his egg bag. The un
slightly animals ran round the pit for few
sc .onds, trying tn jump over the fence. or
find some other mode of escape. but failing
in this they collected in>big black ngly mass
es. with their little eyes shining like beads.
The rat catcher then jumped into the pit
and knelr nu ore knee in the middle of it
A confederate S.o}d outside. holding IA stop
watch, and all at once gave the signal to
begin. Then came horrible spectacle. =
Quick lightning the man plunged his
hand into the mass Of rats, seized one by the
back and carried it to his month then Il
squeak and crunch and the lifejess carcass
was tossed aside with a broken neck. As
soon a the rats found what was gtlng on
aud that there was no escape for them they
attacked the man, climbing up on his thighs.
but be was TOO quick tn let them get higher
he kept both hands busy and looked ao if he
was a magician, pulling constant stream
of dead rats from his mouth. B fore as long
as it has taken to tell it. the bottom of the
pit was covered with dead bodies. One or
two terrified survivors were caught and kill
ed, and then amid acelamationS OF delight
from the audience. the man jumped up. felt
his lin, which had been bitten once or twice
pulled the rat hairs-from between his teeth
and washed away the taste with a glass If
liquor Such description needs no further
comment.