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

1t was In the summer of 81, on
board the steamer Chester Ashley
that we were lad up on account OF
low water, on the Arkansas river
The boat mad become so overrun
with rats that we were i'm danger Ct
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 to
the hold, among her innumerable
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 the
chief engineer shonc forth with daz-
zling brillioncy.
Lets" said he, "turn steam into
the hold and run 'em out"
This being agreed upon, and while
he was raising steam in the nigger
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-chest. This ice
chest was afavorite resort for the old
rodents for in it were kept the deli
clcies of the table. Pies, fruit and
choice cake were also there. | sup
pose the rats looked upon this place
as sort of free Saratoga. At all
events, they would put in afew 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, I
took my station where | could see
the "varmints" as they dcfled from
their untenable cover to one they
thought more promising, and it was
study for u saw mill man. AS the
steam filled the hold they commenc-
ed the line Of march; first came Il
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, as 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 hlm, but was allowed to en-.
ter the icechest unharmed. During
his march, another-not 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 unmolest-
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 ali the young bucks kept com
ing until l 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, for
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 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, l
was. I felt the same impulse to save
its life that actuated Pocahontas on
4 historical occasion, and from an
association of ideas, | named this rat
John Smith.
And now they were all III the chest
and the hole plugged. We called Il
council of war as to the best way to
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 aud long hair,and
here was Just such q chance to try
their metal as he had long yearned
for. So he raised the lid on top,
dropped them in, and closed the
door with the remark, "Go for 'em,
boys" Then he took ont his watch.
They must have went "tor 'em" for
the sounds TIL followed were a mix
ture Of yelps, howls,and tiny squeaks,
mingled with a rattling, surging
sound, as though the life within was
combined and trying to knock out
uTSl one tHu OI lnc CucSt anu Llcll
the other. The old man would sing
out at intervals, SEQ tor 'em boysw
then he would wink ut us, shut one
eye, doubled himself half up, and
raised his right leg rs though he was
i'll an ecstacy of enjoyment.
At length all inside became quiet,
and he looked ut his watch again.
"Sixteen and half minutes" said he,
"Now, w,men, let us turn the chest over
and count the rats, tor think them
pups have knocked the spots off all
former records"
We turned it over, the lid flew
open, and u whole flood 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 III the box, those dogs were in
more small pieces than ever dogs,
not made into sausage, were before.
They looked as though they had been
dead y month and one solitary rat
kept them company-and it was
j ohm Smith.
Prepare tor-Christmas,