Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-08
Tho biggest Rat story on Record.

From tho Dubuque limesi I,N
'1' We are about to relate strange story
-one that might be doubted were il not
snpporied BY the testimony Of numerous
Witnesses The particulars we're related
10 us by friend IN whom we have the
utmost confidence, and We will proceed
10 lay them before the public without
further comment. 80.
For some time past Mr.. Jacob Mon
teith, an enterprising farmer, residing
about ten miles north OF Galena, has
been grisvously tornented with rats.
These pests undermined his harms and
granaries, destroyed his hen roosts, and
finally took possession OF his cellar. 10
such an extent did they carry their raw
ages that il was impossible to keep any
thing 10 the provision line about the
house. Nice sweet hams, stored away
in the cellar, would be found next morn
ing, up in the garnet, barrels and boxes
full of holes, while clothing and other ar
ticles of more or less value turned up
non est inrenfus. At first our friend tried
what virtue there was in cats, and pro.
cured whole brigade, but the rats wentfor
the felines, and after number of pitched
battles cleaned the latter out, the cats
retiring in disgust TO more congenial
quarters Next the services of some
iull.blooded terriers we're procured, but
for every rat that was killed dozen took
his place, until the terriers were even
forced to give il up as bad job, and
actually refused to close their jaws upon
another rodent. Going to Galena, Mr..
Monteith procured about twenty traps
which he used for awhile with great sue
cess, but the pests soon became shy, and
refused to be caught. About six o'clock
last Thursday morning the farmer went
into his cellar TO see how much game he
had bagged during the night. In one of
the traps he found a rat gray with age,
who looked as though he might be the
patriarch Of the whole flock, and be pro-
ceeded to dispatch him at once. Armed
with short stick, he approached the
trap, when the imprisoned rat set up
n piercing sqneAl. STOPPING down,
Mr.. Monieith was about to give
his ratship the coup de grace,
when, strange to relate, whole swarm of
rats, attracted by the frantic squeals of
their comrade, rushed out from their
holes and hiding places, and, compre-
hending the situation, at once charged
down in solid phalanx upon their enemy.
Al first Mr. Monteith was amazed at this
novel performance, and calling to mind
the example Of the strong man of Gaze,
who Stayed his thousands with the jaw
bone of an ass, he concluded that even
so he would serve the varmints who
threatened to eat him out Of house and
home. With bound he sprang among
them, smote them to the right and left,
kicked, stamped and trampled upon them,
piled rats here, there, and everywhere,
ragged, foamed and exulted over his foes,
but still tho rats came on. They
climbed upon his legs and back;
bit bis arms, hands, neck and face, until
tired of the sport, and finding that he was
severely bitten, Mr.. Monteith beat a re-
treat up the stairway, leaving the rats n
possession Of The field. After he nod
rested a short time and reinforce him
self with his wife and two OF ,or hovs
each armed with stout Gu ,oai be do,
scended into the call!sy again deter
mined "to fight it out nm that line Il il
LOOK all summe. But the rats had evil
asns'y -" the worst Of it, for when the
P" reached the scene of the conflict
not q living one was to be seen-none
Int the dead and dying The latter were
soon dispatched, when an inventory was
taken Of the bodies of the slain.
They we're found to number three huns
dred and eighty-six by actual count.
Their removal was a task OF no little
diificnIty, but this was finally accom-
plished. Not living rat has been seen
on the premises since, and Mr.. Mor.teith
now congratulates himself on being rid
of the annoying pests As before stated
the above particulars we're receiv ed from
A. reliable source, and we have merely
related It as related to us. If any one
has bigger rat story, we would like 10
haar IT.