The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-02
DICK, THE RAT
The Ways Of Rat -CatchIng-MA Toner Tells How
He Does It--And How he Makes Living By IT..
A Sample OF How He Works Hotel.

EFrom N. Y. Times.l
With one arm resting on the counter Of
saloon in the Bowery, anu the unen-
gagged hand holding a glass Of whisky,
Mr.. Richard Toner, better known as
''Dick, the Rat" explained to Times
reporter the mysteries of proies-
SIGNAL rat catching. Mr.. Toner is slim,
clean-shaYen young man with sharp
black eyes and ruddy complexion. He
af1ects pronounced style OF dress, wears
wide-seled shoes and is known as a
clever dancer. Originally q butcher boy
in Catherine Market he had ample oppor-
tunity for studying the domestic habits
of the animal against. whom he wages
such unceasing and successful war, and
whose capture affords him very COM
Portable living. He travels all ever the
State, filling engagements in the princi-
pal cities.
$50 begin with," said Mr.. Toner, srats
Is no good. mean they won't try to es-
cape If you know how to catch them.
But that's where the business comes in.
III you see rat In cellar, you may
chase him for five minutes, and unless
you happen to hit him with brick,
you'll never catch him. pd have him
bagged in hall the time. It's all in the
way in which it's done."
hTe LneIo any ObuefS III Inc same
business, besides you?'
"Oh, yes," replied Toner; "there's one
in Chicago, one in San. Francisco, one in
Baltimore, one in Detroit, and two in
Philadelphia. But they never interfere
with me or my partner, John Cassidy.
We 60 all over"
"How did you come to 60 into the bust
nessW
81 saw Jack Jennings one night CATCH
ing rats, and l thought IL he was able TO
catch them l ought to be. So went in
and did it. At that time you always
caught the rats with your hands. Rat
bites is poisonous. A rat that feeds in a
corn warehouse isn't poisonous, but you
get bite from one of them tellers what
feed on hotel swill or slaughter-house
garbage, and you're sure to catch it. 1
got bitten by slaughter-house feler
once, and my arm swelled out until l
was afraid it would have to be cut off,
that l introduced the use of tongs.
John Cassidy says l ought to have that
idea patented"
Taking q stout canvas bag from under
the table, he produced an ordinary pair
of tongs. "rhis," said Mr.. Toner, sis
what l catch them with. You see have
the inside of the end of these tongs made
like rasp. Now, there's another i'm
proyement OF mine. Ii you have an Or
dinary pair Of tongs, and grab stout
rat by the tail, he'll wiggle away, but ii
ye catch him with these, he's bound to go
in the hole.'
"What else do you use, Mr.. Toner?"
"Well, only dark lantern and bag,
Sometimes L sprinkle stuff on the floor
70 make them come out of their holes.
The stuff is trade secret, and attracts
the rats by its smell. IVs the same as
flies and mOlasses."
"Where do you catch the most rats ?"
"Slaughter- houses and granaries. I
often make a good bag in hotels. One
night got three hundrea and fifty rats
in the Astor House Kitchen"
eHow do you charge for your serv-
cesp
swell, me and my assistant gets $5
each every night we work aud our board.
And when we work in private houses
we sometimes charge $l5 for every hum
lred rats we CATCH"
"What do you do with the rats"
"Sell them, of course. Merchants and
brokers' has fancy terriers they want to
rain to xii! rats, and If there's a rafting
match comes off we furnish the rats.
Good rats is worth $40 a hundred"
II suppose you have considerable
number OF customersH
sob, nearly all the big hotels, brew
cries, saloons and slaughter-houses in
The State. You see, traps and poison
can't drive them out. Rats breed SO fast
that you can't catcn them quick enough,
and If you poison them they die in tneir
lOles."
"Well, how do you catch them?'
IL 60 into the cellar, or wherever. the
'ats are, with John. He holds. the bag
md take the dark lantern and the
,ongs. We have rubbers ON and step
light. The rats run around and /
squeak like one. Then they come
siose to us, and. l throw open the
slide of the lantern. The rats get con
used and rush into the light, ami grab
hem and put them in the bag. Wnen
there's no more, / 60 out and leave the
place be for a couple of hours, or another |
lay, and then i 20 at them again. But
,he best way 10 know is to see me work. |
Ne and John is going TO clean out |
lotel tonight, and il you come along |
you can take a hand in. Pll leave here |
It - O'clock" The reporter accepted |
he proposition, and on returning at mid |
light found MIR. Toner and his partner |
n waiting. Cassidy carried the bag and |
ools, and, jumping on a Broadway car,
he party were soon conveyed to their |
a prominent Broadway ho- |
el. The night clerk, on being informed |
~ Mr.. Toner OF his business, ordered |
lin to be shown to the servants hall. |
where the head waiter, couple of
looks, and several grooms were wait |
ng to see the rat-catchers. These per.
.ons regarded Mr.. Toner and his COM
'anions with the utmost awe and
aspect. Mr.. Toner asked for the key |
II the kitchen. This having been given |
lin, he opened the closets and store |
DOM doors, and sprinkling few spoon
uls of od0rous fluid in the center OF the |
,ftchen he retired, locking the door after |
i'm aud putting the key in his pocket,
emarking at the same time to the head |
ook, ''lf any of the folks up stairs |
wants vittles cooked now, they've got to |
q without 'em." Having uttered this |
eclaration OF authority, MIR. Toner re-
lmed his seat in the servants hall, and |
pent the following hour in drinking and
moking.
At length he remarked, ~ guess we'll |
o to work. and lit his dark.lantern.
With the lantern in his left nand and
he tongs in his right, Dick led the way, |
'assidy following next with the bag,
nd the reporter bringing up the rear, |
Step Lightly said Dick, as he unlocked |
be Kitchen. door. The party stepped /
uickly in and smut the door. The patter /
I the rats on the floor could be heard
Iu ftNfth n IittI i. ), i. :, i