Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-12-22
The Latest Rat Story.

1t was in the summer Of 81, OF
board the steamer Chester Ashley
that we were lad up on account OF
low water, on the Arkansas river
The boat had become so overrul
with rats that we were in danger C1
having the whole freight list to pay
for Our cargo consisted almost en-
tirely of bacon and flour, and they
had perforated it in every direction
AS last experiment to get rid OF
them We had the entire load carried
ashore, and then commenced grand
rat hunt. The animals all took tc
the hold, among her innumerablc
salt boxes and under the dunnages
found shelter, that but few could be
dislodged and killed 1t was in this
emergency that the genius Of tbs
chief engineer shonc forth with daz
zling briliancy.
Let's" said he, "turn steam into
the hold and run 'em out"
This being agreed upon, and while
he was raising steam in the niggei
boiler the rest of us went around stop
ping up their places of egrcss, and
stopping them all except one hole
which came through the deck few
feet from the ice-chcst. This ice
chest was afavorite resort for the old
rodents for in it were kept the deli
cacies Of the table. Pies, fruit and
choice cake We're also there. l sup.
pose the rats looked upon this place
as sort Of free Saratoga. At all
events, they would put in a few hours
OF every night there, and this might
represent their seasons.
The lce-chest was about eight feet
square, with the opening on top, that
is, our opening; the rats had theirs
through the back, close down to the
deck. This we also left open, and
this arrangement left the rats only
one hiding place on the main deck
Steam now being ready, and a
cock opened to let it into the hold,
took my station where | could see
the ''varmints" as they dctiled from
their untenable cover to one they
thought more promising, and it was
study for saw mill man. AS the
steam filled the hold they commenc
ed the line Of march; first came a
venerable looking old chap on hose
head the trosts of many winters had
settled. He passed along with a
measured gait, slowly moving his
head from side to side, rs though he
said, "Boys | am afraid you've got
lis this time," and he seemed to be
astonished that no missiles were hurl
ed after HIM, but was allowed to en-.
ter the icc-chest unharmed. During
his march, another-not a "sister"--
kept his head out OF the deck hole,
watched his progress, and when he
saw him safely housed, out he came
too, and made the march unmolcst-
ed. This seemed to be all they wait.
ed for, for they then poured out in
an unbroken stream, and they were
all there.
! The wife whose babe first smiled that day;
/ The fair fond bride Of yester eve;
| The aged SIRE the matron gray;
and all the young bucks kept com
ing until | thought they had some
way of getting from the chest to the
hold again and were keeping up an
unbroken circle. But atlength there
happened breaks in the procession
then these breaks became more fre
quent and Of greater duration, and
after while they came in single in
dividuals and in more of hurry, fol
the hold was getting hot, and later
they came slower and less hair on
them, and the last one looked sick
didn't seem to care whether he got
anywhere or not, as he passed me he
cast a look Of holy scorn and holy
sadness, as if to say, "You fellows
think you're smart; you ought to be
ashamed" and, to tell the truth,
was. I felt the same impulse to save
its life that actuated Pocahontas or
a historical occasion, and from al
association of ideas, | named this IA,
John Smith.
And now they were all IN the chest
and the hole plugged. We called d
council of war as to the best way tc
finish them. The engineer wanted
to carry on: his design and turn the
steam on them and cook them alive
but the old man wanted some fun;
he had 4 couple Of imported Scotch
terriers, full blood and long hair,and
here was just such q chance to try
their metal rs he had long yearned
for. SO he raised the lid on top
dropped them in, and closed the
door with the remark, $50 for 'em
boys" Then he took out his watch
They must have went "tor 'em" fo1
the sounds tn followed were i mix
ture of yelps, howls, and tiny squeaks
mingled with y rattling, surgins
sound, rs though the life within wa.
combined and trying to knock ou
first one end of the chest and ther
the other. The old man would sing
out at intervals, "Go tor 'eln boys!
then he would wink at us, shut on.
eye, doubled himself half up, ant
raised his right leg rs though he wa.
in an ecstacy of enjoyment
At length all inside became quiet
and he looked at his watch again
"Sixteen and a half minutes" said he
"Now,men, let us turn the chest over
and count the rats, tor think them
pups have knocked the spots off al
former records"
We turned it over, the lid flew
open, and a whole food of rats came
pouring out like bees from an upturn
ed hive.
We had to clear the track until
they all escaped, and when we look
el i'll the box, those dogs were il
more small pieces than ever dogs
not made into sausage were before
They looked as though they had beel
dead a month and one solitary RI
kept them company-and it wa'
John Smith.
| Prepare for-Christmas.