Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-04-06
'The hotels there seem to have been
very fairly stocked

! .'The hotels there seem to have been
very fairly stocked"
! swell, yes, sir, but It's almost as bad
here. I've been five years employed BY
Earle's hotel, cleared out the St. Ste
phen, an get regular jobs at the Fifth
Avenue. Windsor, Brunswick an Metro
politan hotels. Rats in abundance is
not desirable"
He laid his pipe on the step again and
said refectively:
| "That's as ugly lookin' customer
as I've seen this many day. He'll
fight, but I'll get him bara-hsnded Just
TO show you the sport"
Another rat, much larger than the
first, with scrawny legs, and an emaci-
ated body, was standing by the hole he
had just emerged from, and trying to
open the little wire door. When the
little man approached him, the rat
slowly retreated, but did not go as
though frightened, as his fat predeces-
sor had, but rather as a savage cur re-
treats, turning half around toward his
pursuer every few steps. When he had
reached the corner he stood at bay.
The man edged up toward him, but be-
fore he got within jumping distance
the rat shot off along the wall. He was
driven back several times, and he be-
came uglier at every defeat, until at
length the little man was just ready to
spring at him, when the rat made
noisy squeak and jumped straight for
his throat. 1t bounded from the floor
with spring of extraordinary strength.
and shot 1T the mans throat as though
driven from cannon, with its teeth all
showing and its long tail straight. The
rat-catcher threw up his arm, hitting it
savage blow, which drove il against
the wall, whence it fell to thefoor with
thud. In an instant it got on It's feet
and made another furious spring at the
rat-catcher's throat. This time he lodged
it. The rat, when it came to the floor,
then started for its hole, but, failing to
get in once more, ran along to the cor-
ner. The little man was circling about
it, constantly uttering the squeaking
call through his teeth.
"T1l get him this time" he said.
calmly; she's bad one. but I'll get
him."
He slowly approached the rat, which
was again ct bay in the corner, but
whenever the animal showed any dispo-
sition to jump he would retreat. These
tactics were kept up for some time, till
the rat started once more toward its
hole. That was the fatal step, for the
instant it started the catcher threw him
self forward and pinned il with both
hands to the floor. His recklessness in
diving forward was as remarkable as his
success in always catching the rat.
The reporter noticed that nearly half
dozen big rats were on the floor, hud-,
died behind the harness closet. They
had slipped out Of the holes unnoticed,'
and skurried around for concealment
during the fight. The catcher took his
long tongs, and crept toward them with.
the implement open and held well in
front. One Of the rats started along
the wall, and the catcher sprang after
it and caught it by the tail as it ran
along with his big tongs, and held it
dangling up to view. This was thrust
into the bag, and the others soon joined it.
"Now we'll have the pleasure Of
waitin'," observed the little man. as he
sprinkIed more Of the thirst-inspiring
powder in the holes. relit the pipe, and,
turning the gas almost out, seated him
self on the lower steps Of the ladder
and fell into deep meditation. For an
hour he sat thus, without speaking, and
while the reporter roasted, listened to
the occasional clicking OF the little
doors and the monctonous patter of the
rats feet as they scampered to and fro
on the bare floor. When the little man
turned up the gas, there was sight
At least half a hundred black and bgown
little animals were scudding around on
the floor. The repugnance that men
naturally feel for rats seemed to have
no place in the feelings OF the stumpy
little rat-catcher, who sailed into his
work with great vigor. Only twice did
he encounter any opposition, and then
it was short-hved. At the expiration Of
half an hour they were all squeaking
together in the big bag-a turbulent
mass OF rats. He went outside in the
yard, and brought in little terrier to
guard the place till morning, and then,
swinging the bag on his shoulders, he
went out into the street.
s'What do you do with them all ?"
we asked.
IT have number of dogs for train
in'," an they're very fond Of rats"
The little man went trudging up the
street in the early morning, with his
huge burden Of scrambling rats over
shadowing his figure.
a curlnus RaiIrnad