The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-01-03
ONE HUNDRED RATS.
ANovv York Entertainment,

IN the rear of large building in the
Seventeenth Ward, large number Of
sporting men and dog fanciers assembled
Mt 8 O'clock last evening. As the select
few who had been invited arrived, they
were challenged at the door, and the
watchman having given his signal the
bolts were drawn back and the party
were admitted. At o'clock Richard
Toner, the professional rat catcher, and
his assistants entered. " Dick, the Rat, 3"
as he IS known, at once made the pit.
This consisted Of four large boards,
about four feet high, by six feet long,
and fastened with strong iron bolts.
Having swept the floor carefully, Dick
and his assistants went out and fetched
two large bags.
"Here's the squealers," n sporting
man shouted, and then the piercing
squeals of tho imprisoned rats were
heard. Tho referee announced that jim
Doyle's white bitch ''NTellie" was match
ed to kill one hundred rats against
'Wip's" best time, namely: fifteen min
utes and fifty seconds.
A call was made for the rats.
They're the best in market" said
Dick. This lot IS a selection from
Fulton Market, the Sturtevant House
and the best hotels.
The two bags we're tossed into the pit
and emptied. Out they rolled, great
big, fat, strong, ugly fightingrats. Some
had their tails cut; others were badly
SCARED. After running round the pit
they hUddled close to the sides, biting
and tearing each other. The referee
pronounced them sound and good.
Cries for Jim Doyle and Nellie
brought up a thick-set, good-Iooking
youngster, who held by stout chain a
strong, well-buiIt, pure white bitch.
Bowing TO the spectators, Jim Doyle
stripped off his coat and vest, tucked his
pantalOOns into his boots, and sprang in
to the pit.
Slip her collar !" he shouted to his
assistant, and then picking up Nellie in
his arms he held her firmly until the
word was given. At 10 o'clock precise
ly the referee called, Sc Are you ready?"
Jim Doyle answered " Yes
Then let her gol
And the great white dog descended
upOL4 lL4G LGtAL VI 4Ak9s W I'LL uGL BAOuLL
close to the ground, her tail erect, and
her thin sides heaving, she rushed upon
them, snatching them up with the rapid
ity of thought, and in a twinkling twen-
ty lay dead in her tracks. As the rats
fell Sim Doyle picked them up, and they
were thrown into q bag.
A large, ugly rat sprang at Nellie, and
fastening his teeth in Der neck, hung
there for a moment but the dog, with
n shake of the head, flung the rodent
aside and then crunehed it.
Fifty rats were killed in six minutes,
and Nellie began to show the effects of
the terrible heat Of the room. 'Her sides
and legs bled from bites she had received,
and the excited crowd shouted, Give
her air, let her have her own way. But
jim Doyle urged her on, patting her en-
couraging her with "Shake them therel
shake them At the ninetieth rat Nell
lie was ahead of time, although almost
exhausted. Her ninety-ffth rat showed
fight, and Nellie lost six seconds. At
last the referee shouted fifteen minutes
and fifty seconds. Nellie lost the match,
having killed the last rat at the expira-
ton of sixteen minutes. As the last rat
was killed Nellie fell exhausted, and was
carried out limp and bleeding.
The police arrived after the show was
oYer,-M Z Sun