The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-02-06

| PHILADELPHIA'S RAT-kILLER.--A
gray. haired little man, oog Of no particu-
lar breed and less beauty, save in the ami
able wag of his tail, and a box strapped
! across the little mans back-theso three
items filed the bill Of rat-catching con.
Germ that slowly courscd its way down Co.
lumbia avenue on Saturday.
He had followed rat.catching for many
years, the old man said-how many he didn't
then recall-and he had been successful in
his work In the stables at Seventh and
Washington avenue he had cleaned out BIZ
rats in one day. 1t was common occur
renee for him to get seventy-ive out OF
house, aud often he had captured over Il
hundred in stores Grain stores are espc
cially prolific of rats The box containing
ferrcts aud the dog that trotted SO dcmure
ly behind were important adjuncts Of the
business.
There were four ferrets in the box
These he had owned several years, having
obtained them from the captain of schoOn-
or sailing between this country and Liver
pool. A peep into an opening made for
ventilation satisfied the reporter as to what
kind of "varmut" a ferret is. He has q
long body, which is thin and supple, as
though bonecss. The neck is long, and
tapcrs down to a head with a very sharp
snout. The eyes are small and red, hence
the expression, Gas red as fcrrct's eyes" /"
The owner said that these had become so
well domesticatcd that they could be han
died without fear.
GLOW do l go to work ?" We'll, exam
inc house, carefully ascertaning where
the rat holes arc Thou o~v, all but two Ul
these place net with small mcshes. The
ferret is put into a hole, and that is imme-
diatcly covered with net. l then station
myself with the dog at the only hole left
open. | am armed with club, which takes
heavy part in the business should the rats
become too numerous for the dog. 1t is
hardly moro than five minutes before rat
bounccs out of the uncovered hole, and the
dog receives him in his mouth. The fer
ret, after having been through the house,
works out himself, and leaves hardly any
rats behind.
81 never use the same ferret twice in
succession" he explained, sand that is the
reason | carry four of them. They become
tired, and, if used too often, stop to rest,
and. therefore. time is lost"
lie did not know what became Of the
rats, as he never took them himself 1t
seemed remarkable, but rat had never been
known to turn on n ferret, the rat seeming
to recognize the ferret us his enemy aud al
ways getting out of the way just as fast as
possible Contests in close quarters between
Il rat and ferret had invariably resulted in a
victory for the ferret, for with all the MIN
| nf bp hn -. bo,
tive and takes the rodent by the throat.be
foro he is aware of such near approach.
While the Old man talked he thrust his
hand in the box and among his pets with
out the slightest fear of being bitten by
them, and said to the reporter that in his
own room h, gave the little yellow coated
fellows perfect freedom. "It is not" he
stated, San unusual occurrence for persons
to have them about the house, and
is n matter of some surprise to him that
such was not more frequently the rule, as
it was Il certain preventive against rats aud
mice. The ferret is fond of blood, and it
is this thirst that gives him such an excel
lent zcst in the hunt for rats. If any one
sA9sd eve y RatR g"p posscssors @ of r"S
number. They are well known for their
fccundity, producing as many as two littcrs
in one year. They eat raw meat, and the
ireshcr it is the better they like it, having
an excellent relish for the taste Of blood
So strong is this developed in them that
care has to be taken not to let them get
among chickens, for they would kill and
suck the blood from dozen chickens in
night"
The little Old man, who gives this infor-
nation, has been able to make comlolta.
bic living by following the calling of a rat
catcher, and when not otherwise employed
it keeps him busy dividing his attention, as
equally as possible, between the dog and
lerrets, for there is intense jealousy between
these members f.that household .-IHH
Record
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