The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-07-05
DICK, THE RAT.

DICK, THE RAT "
" Richard Toner, the rat-catcher, known
in New York as 1.-THE Rat" is among the
arrivals at the Lindell. Having extermi-
mated the rats from the leading hotels
and many private dwellings in New York,
he comes here recommended by mr.. L.
land, of the Metropolitan Hotel, to the
proprietors of the Lindell as the man to
purge their establishment from the YER
min. Mr., Toner is an tait in his art Of
rat-killing, and probably stands at the
head of his profession. He graduated
under the tuition of an English rat-exter-
minator, and has followed, the business
for twelve years in New York, supple
menting the catching part In the way Of
profit by keeping rat-pit. But his
emolumcnts in the last respect have been
cut off by the humanitarian policy of an
enemy to such sports, Mr.. Bcrgh, the
friend of the rat as we'll as all other
Toner has mission however, to per-
form as well as Mr.. Bcrgh. He is posted
in the natural history and curious in
stincts Of the rodent. He asserts that the
rat tribe commence breeding at three
months old, and the female breeds once a
month, producing invariably thirteen at
TIME, and what is curious, only one Of
the litter is a female. This scarcity of
the female seems to be an excellent pro-
vision of nature, otherwise the world
would bc 0verrun with the progeny
Mr.. Toner, accompanied by his assist
ant, John Smith, made his first essay last
night at the Lindell. He brought down
from his room ferret, which, when the
regular trail of the rat is found, is put in
to hunt them out. The ferret is a fero-
cious little animal with long slender
body, sharp of scent, and his instinct has
been used to hunt out rabbits rs we'll as
rats.
AS it was essential to ascertain by in
spcction the principal runway Of the rats,
their exits and their entrances, the ferret
was not employed at first, but few rats
were picked up with pincers and bagged.
About 10 O'Clock, Mr.. Griswold and
considerable party proceeded to the base
mcnt to skirmish.
Equipped with a dark-lantern and
pair Of peculiarly constructed pincers.
Dick is ready for the hunt. His feet are
incascd in soft slippers that he may move
noisclcssly, as are also the feet of the at
tendant, who carries bag into which the
rats arc thrown. Reaching the room
where he expects to find rats he listens
silently, and his sense of hearing, from
constant practice, has become very acute.
He can hear the slightest football of the
rat, and, as the vermin pass him, with his
left hand he throws ray of light upon
the animal and with his right deity
closes On the hind legs or tail of the TO
dent, which is then thrown into the bag.
The attendant meanwhile keeps up con-
slant movement of the bag to keep the
rats from knawing their way out. When
the captures have driven the rats into cor
ncrs and hiding places, Dick begins to
make an effort for them. He pokcs into
corners, between barrels and behind
boxes, throwing ray from his lantern
into these dark places, where the timid
things are often found hidden away.
Often, too, the light will attract them,
and as they run upon the lighted spot the
rcmorseless pincers gather them in. 1t is
not an unusual occurrence for Dick to
capture $50 in night.
Quietly and deity Mr.. Toner and his
attendant continued the search, dropping
into the subterrenean apartments of the
hotel, alleys, halls, and alcoves. In one
of the passages sly old rat was observed
behind a barrel. Mr.. Toner Immediate
ly turned the bull's-eye flash of his dark
lantern on the rat, who, dazed by the sud-
den glare, lost his presence of mind, and
Ioof 10 IN %h1 81
ton, he was clinched by the nippers, and.
uttcring squeal was put into the bag.
Several others were caught in this way,
but Mr.. Toner thought that he might
not use the ferret until after midnig ht,
when all was still, if at all, the first nj ght.
Before Mr.. Bergh interposed an OBJ jec-
ton in New York, Dick could do his
work more thoroughly. He then, as he
will ito here, employed ferret, whose
lips were "ringed'' to prevent it from Bit
ing or killing the rat. The ferret was
put into a rat hole at the top of the
building and for the space Of an hour
would be hid: te-view. The rats stand in
mortal fear Of their agile little enemy and
fly percipitate1y before it. Whenever a
rat can go the ferret can follow. and he
drives it from haunt to haunt, from cover
to cover, until finally the rats take to open
spaces, where they fall an easy prey to
Dick and his pincer. But through the
agency Of the Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty to Animals he is compelled to
forego this process in New York State.
In most of the other States, however, he
still employs the ferret. 1t is by far the
most eff ectual meaus of driving the rats
out Of the house. The introduction of the
ferret into bulldog three or four nights
in succession, will compel the rats to COM
plctcly cvacuate the premises. Attained
terret+is as obedicnt as a wcll-traincd
dog. The owner hearing the ferret in
the walls and whistling to it, will find
his summons Immediately answered
by the appearance of the docile little an
imal.
Most people have IN aversion to the
rat. But Dick has grown into such in
:timacy with the rodent that he admits
him to his clothing, allowing him to run
over his body at will. Dick has had
many experiences, which he relates. A
couple of them are worth telling. One
carly morning, after nights work in
the subterrancan regions of hotel in
New York, he entered Third avenue car
with his assistant to return home. Tired
out with their labors they both:.f asleep
Suddenly Dick was awakened by a loud
scream, and he'opened his eyes to find
the sleepy passengers. now thoroughly
awake, standing upon the seats with the
conductor dancing about like one de
mentcd on the floor, in his cndeavors to
keep out of:thc way Of the rats that were
scampcring about in every direction. The
assistant instead Of knnninn auako and