The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1882-07-22
A RAT TALE.
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Mice have always been plenty enough
in Austin, but genuine rats never. In
the early history of the Comstock the
same could be said of that section, but
by degrees rats got brought over the
mountains in boxes and bales Of goods,
merchandise and other transpertable ar.
rangements, and the colony once started,
rats soon became plenty. The stores,
sidewalks, bulkheads and similar places
are full of them, and in the mines, hun.
dreds OF feet below the surface, they
literally swarm. The miner, surrounded
by palpable dangers ON every hand, has
no desire to hurt even the rat who
shares his dangers and bears him COM
panionship; but when he sits eating his
midnight lunch, and by the candles
Pickering light sees few hungry
rodents perched on the cap timbers, or
among the crevices Of the tagging, twink
ling their little black eyes at him, he
always throws them few crumbs or
empties his pail on the ground for their
benefit.
A Reveille reporter was informed
yesterday by one Of the Oldest inhabi-
tants of Austin, one of those who can
not tell lie, that the first rat ever seen
in Austin was in 1868. He came in
load Of barley from California, and was
discovered and lynched as soon as he
arrived. The same veracious authority
declares that no other rat has ever been
seen in Austin since. Be that as it may,
q genuine old long.tailed California rat
arrived in town last Thursday evening
When the express wagon came up from
the depot, and left some boxes in front
of the International the rat ratified out
of something. Half dozen men and
dog or two got after him, and after
very narrow escape or tive, he lodged
into the open door Of Sol. Roslings
little store near by, and disappeared
among the boxes and things.
The old rat kept very quiet and close
that night, but the next night he ven.
tured forth and helped himself, leaving
evidences thereof scattered about next
morning in the shape of partially de-
voured peaches, crackers, candles, etc.
Sol concluded to stop that, so after bus
mess was over Saturday night, he shut
up the doors and prepared for the fray.
Joe Polkinghorne, the shoemaker, and
big Tim Conlin, from Yankee Blade,
were the only ones allowed to assist.
They had a cat, and they moved the
boxes about till they found their game.
And he was game, too. There he was
in the corner, as big as a rabbit, and
with tail on him like garden hose
The cat walked toward him, but nevel
having seen such big mouse before
she lost confidence and backed out
Then the rat made rush at them
screeching like a steam whistle anc
thrashing his tail around like an ALI
gator. The cat bounced through tn
glass door, Sol escaped over the counter
Joe turned back summersault througl
cabbage crate, and Big Tim jumpe'
right square up four feet and hal
toward the ceiling But when he cam
down he landed both feet and %
pounds weight square on top of the rat.
He died Immediately, did that valian
old rat, mashed as thin as a Aapjack
They got hold of his tail and dragge
him out into the street, where som
Cinnamon, who had been watching an
waiting, muzzled the carcass and packe
it off home. Thus summarily ended til
tale of the second rat ever seen
Austin.