The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-10
RATs ABOARD TIE AsHLEy.
An Occa sion Fraunht with Interest for Two
scotch Terriers and Tbeir Owner.
From ne Cut,o (in) argus Journal

From ne Cutyo (in) Aro,AJownaL
In 1855, on board the steamer Ashley, wo
were overrun with rats that we were IN dan
ger OF having the whole freight list to paw for.
Our cargo consisted almost entirely OF bacon
and flour, and they had perforated this In every
direction. As a last experiment to get rid Of
them we had the entire load carried ashore, and
then commenced grand rat hunt. The animals
all took to the hold, and among her innuner-
able salt boxes and under the damages found
shelter. 80 that but few could be dislodged and
killed. II was IN this emergency that the genius
OF the chief engineer shone forth with dazzling
brllaucv.
Let's" said he. "turn steam into the hold
and run EN- out"
1his being agreed upon, while he was raising
steam In the boiler the rest OF us went aroun
stepping no their places Of eeress. and stopped
them all except one hole which came through
the deck few feet from the ice chest. The ice
chest was a favorlte resort Of the old rodents,
for IN It was Kept the dencacies OF the table.
pios. fruit. and choice cakes were always there.
| suppose the rats looked on this place a. sort
OF tree Saratoga. At all events they would put
IN feV hours 81 every night there, and this
nllHht re9fe-ynt. their seasons. The Ice chest
was about eight feet square, with the opening
a. tne .opmtnat u our opening: they mad theirs
We also left open. and this arrangement left
the rats only one hiding place on the main deck.
steam being ready, and a cock opened to adj
nit into tue hold, took nv station where
could SCI TIE "vlrmints" as they de filed from
their unten HE cover to one they thought more
trnmisng II was = study for saw IN II
man. A. the steam nllcd ths hold, thev coin
mcnced their line OF march: frat came "A yeper-
able-lookiug Old chap. one on whose head the
troSts 81 many winters hud settled. He passed
along with u measured gait. slowly moving his
" BOYS. I'm afraid you've rot us this time" and
he seemed to he astonishcd that no missiles
were hurled after him. tut was allowed to enter
the Ice Guest unframed. during his march
anuther-not a sister-kept his head out the
deck mole, watched mis- progress and when he
saw MIN safely housed, out he came. too. aud
made the march unmolcsted. This seemed I'll
they waited Tor; they then poured out III one
unOruken stream. and they we're all there
TIE wifo wnose babe nrst smiled that days
rhe i tnr blond Or, 4rii ,sa o. ester ewes
and all the young bucks just kept coming untll
thought n cy had snme way OF getting from
the lee chest to the hold again and were keeuing
up an untroken circle. hut at length there
happcned breaks In the procession, tn n these
IRE Ks bee me more frequent and Of greater
dur ton. and, after awhile, they came In single
lhdiVluuals and In more OF a hurry Tor the hold
WIS getting hot, nd later they came slower ana
had ess hair on them. aud the last one looked
SICK, oidut seem to care whether he got any
where or not and A. he passed me he cast a look
OF holy scorn aud holy sadness, as II to say.
You fellows think you're smart; YOU ought to
re ashamed" and. 10 tell the truth. was.
ielt the same Impulse to save It's life that ac-
tuated Pocahontas on an historical occasinn
and, ION an association OF Ideas. named this
rnt John : NTH.
Ana now they were all In the chest and tho
hole plugged. We called council Of war n to
the best way To finish them The engineer
wanted to carry out designs nnd turn the steam
on them and cook them alive. but tho "old
man wanted some fun lie had a couple II
Imported Scotch terrier. iull blood ana long
hair, and here was just such cnance to Try
their metile as he tong had yeafned Tor. 80 ne
tHised the III on toy. dropped them in. aud
ciosed the door with the remark, 90 for 'ein
bows Then he took out hi- wat h.
1hey must have went for en- for the
sounds that followed wrrc a mixture Of yclu-,
huwl-. ana Inv squcaks. mingled with "A rat
Ting. surgtng sound. ~ though the NE Wi,hin
: combined nd trying To kuock out frst one
end OF the chest aud then ths other. he "old
man wound ling out ~ intervals, GO fur 'eiu
toNsl' Then be would wink at rs, shut one
eye, double hifnsclf up. aud raise his gignt leg IS
tnou j he WAS Ia an ecstacv ~ ENJOYMENT
At length all inside became quiei. and be
looked AZ his watch aklin. sixteen ami hAlf
minutcs,' said he. :" Now, men. let ~ turn tue
On, ~ over and count the rata, for think them
pups have Knocked the spots on of our former
records.
We turned It over. the lid flew open, and a
whole Moor Of rats came pouring out ike hoes
from an uptnrned hive. We had to clear ,he
track until they all escaped, and " hen we looked
In the COX those dogs were IN more pieces tuau
They looked 20 though they had been dead
month, and oniN one solitary rat Kept tnem
comp~ny-and 1t WAS john smith.