Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-03-03
Rat Catching.

/
A reporter of the New York Times had
an interview recently with Richard
Toner, professional rat-catcher of that
city, and gathered the following informa-
ton concerning the business of rat-catch-
ing: "a
Taking stout canvas bag from under
the table, he produced an ordinary pair
| of tongs "This," said Mr.. Toner, (" is
what l catch them with. You see l have
the inside of the end of these tongs made
4 like a rasp. Now, there's another i'm
| provement of mine. If you have an ordi-
nary pair of tongs, and grab stout rat
by the tail he'll wiggle away, but if we
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 / sprinkle stuff on the floor to
make them come out of their holes. The
stuff is trade secret, and attracts the rats
by its smell. It's the same as flies and
molasses.;' -
eWell, how do you catch them ~
81 go into the cellar, or wherever the
rats are, with John He holds the bag,
and take the dark lantern and the tongs.
We have rubbers- on and step light. The
rats run around, and / squeak like one.
Then they come close to us, and throw
open the slide of the lantern. The rats
get confused and rush into the light, and
/ grab them and put them in the bag.
When there's no more, l go out and leave
the place be for a couple of hours or an
other day, and then / go at them again.
But the best way. to know is to see me
work. Me and John is going to clean out
hotel tonight, and if you come along
you can take hand in. I'll leave here
at twelve O'clock The reporter accepted
the proposition, and on returning at mid
night found Mr.. Toner and his partner in
waiting Cassidy carried the bag and
tools, and jumping on Broadway car,
the party were soon conveyed to their des-
tination, a prominent Broadway hotel.
The night clerk, on being informed by
Mr.. Toner of his business, ordered him to
be shown to the servants hall, where the
head-waiter, couple of cooks and several
gro0ms were waiting to see the rat-catch-
ers. These persons regarded Mr.. Toner
and his companions with the utmost awe
and respect. One of the English grooms
gave graphic description of several rat
ting matches he had seen at Jimmy
Shaw's, in Windmill street, near the Hay
market, and Mr. Toner gravely assented
to the statement that Jimmy Shaw's Jacko
was the best ratter ever put into pit.
Mr.. Toher next asked for the key of the
kitchen. This having been given him, he
opened the closets and store-room doors,
and sprinkling few spoOnfuls OF odorous
fluid in the center of the kitchen he re-
tired, locking thepdoOr after him and put
ting the key in his pocket, remarklng at
the same time to the head cook, 1t any
of the folks up stairs wants vittles cooked
now, they've got to go without 'em. "
Having uttered this declaration of author
ity, Mr. Toner resumed his seat in the
servants hail. and spent the following
hour in drinking and smoking.
AT length be remarked, 81 guess we IL
90 to work" and lit his dark lantern.
With the lantern in his left hand and the
tongs in his right, Dick led the way, Cas-
sidy following next with the bag, and the
reporter bringing up the rear. Step
light" said Dick, as he unlocked the
kitchen door. The party stepped quickly
in and shut the door. The patter of the
rats on the floor could be heard plainly.
| With a. little instrument he had in his
mouth Dick initiated the ''squeak-
squeak,'' to perfection. The next moment
he threw back the slide Of the lantern,
and Cassidy threw the bag open. he
circle of light on the floor seemed fairly
swarming with rats. AS quick as light
ming Dick seized them with the tongs and
dropped them into the bag. The rats
dashed round in the circle of light, and
seemed afraid to stir beyond it. They
were quickly snatcbed up until no more
remained on the floor. "Thats not so
bad" said Cassidy, giving the bag a
shake i'sThere's a hundred and twenty,
Dick" Toner replied, There's another
got away over in that corner, there,
heard him" And he walked rapidly to a
portion of the kitchen where there was a
huge chopping- bench. Sure enough,
there was the rat. Dick threw the glare
of the lantern right on the rat, blinded
him, and hauled him out with the tongs.
81 guess that's ALL" said Dick. Now
you see how it's DONE"
Noticing that Cassidy kept swinging
the bag about, the reporter asked what
that was done for. "Oh,'' said Dick,
chats to keep the rats from eating their
way out"