The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-06-16
A Big Rat Story.

The number OF rats inhabiting the
rocky crevices and cayernous passages
at the summit of Pixies Peak SAYS a
correspondent Of the Pueblo Chiellai0
have recently become formidable and
dangerous. These animals are known
to feed upon saccharinc gum that per-
colates through the pores Of the rocks.
apparently upheaved by some volcanic
action. Since the establishment Of the
Government signal-station on the sum-
init of the Peak, at an altitude of nearly
$1,000 feet, these animals have acquired
a voracious appetite for raw and un
cooked meat, the scent Of which seems
To impart To them ferocity rivaling the
fierceness Of the starved Siberian wolf.
The most singular trait in the character
of these animals is that they are never.
seen in the day time. When the moon
pours down her queenly light upon the
summit they may be seen in countless
numbers trooping around among the
rocky powders that crown the barren
waste, and during the warm summer
months they may be seen swimming
and sporting in the waters of the lake.
a short distance below the Peak, and Of
dark, cloudy night, their trail in the
water is marked by a sparkling light,
giving 10 the waters Of the lake bright
and silvery appearance. A few days
/ since Mr.. John Il. O'keefe, one of the
I Government operators at the signal
station upon the Peak, returned TO his
post, taking with him upon pack
animal quarter Of beef. II be-
\ ing late in the afternoon, his colleague.
Mr.. Hobbs, Immediately left with
\ the pack animal for the Springs. soon
after dark, while Mr.. O'keeie was en-
I gagged in the office forwarding night
dispatches to Denver and Washington,
he was startled by loud scream from
7 Mrs. O'keefe, who had retired for the
night to an adjoining bedroom, and
who came rushing into the Office
screaming, "The rats the rats -
Mr.. O'Keefe, with great presence If
mind, Immediately drew around his
wife ascroll zinc plating, which pre-
vented the animals from climbing upon
her person, and, although his own per-
son was almost literally covered with
them, he succeeding in encasing both
of his legs each in a joint of stove-pipe,
when he commenced fierce and
+ desperate struggle for the preservation
Of life, being armed with heavy cane
! Hundreds were DESTROYED on every side,
while they still seemed 10 pour with in
creasing numbers from the bedroom,
the door of which had been left open.
The entire quarter of beef was eaten in
less than five minutes, which seemed 10
only sharpen their appetites for an at-
tack upon Mr.. O keeie, whose hands.
! face and neck we're terribly lacerated-
In the mid 81 of the warfare Mrs. O'keefe
managed TO reach the Office, from which
she threw a coil of electric wire over
her husband that sprang outward
and spread itself over the room, then,
grasping the valve Of the battery, She
poured all its terrible power upon the
wire. In an instant the room was AT
ablaze Will electric light, and hum
dreds were killed by the shock, when
the sudden appearance Of daylight,
made such by the coruscation Of the
heavily charged wire, caused them 20
take refuge among the crevices and
caverns OF the mountain, by way Of the
bed-rO window, through which they
had forced their way. But the saddest
part of this night adventure upon the
Peak is the destroying of their infant
child, which Mrs. O'keefe thought she
had made secure by heavy covering
Of bed clothing. But the rats had
found their way to the infant (only two
months old), and left nothing Of il but
the peeled and naked skull. Drs. Horn
and Anderson have just returned 70
Colorado Springs from the Peak. y
was thought at first that the left arm Of
Sergeant O'Keefe would have 10 be am
putated, but they now believe it can be
saved.