Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-05-01

4 DISGUSTING JOB.

For a wager OF 500 William Lewis
tried the other night, in Philddeiphia,
to pick up and place in barrel one
hundred 1--we rata The articles of agree
ment stipulated that, to via, Lewis would
have to transfer the rats from tho pit 10
the barrel in so minutes, and that the
work must 10 done with bare hands and
arms. Lewis II 4 Philadeiphian, forty
years old. He has had fifteen years ex-
periSuos - . professional rat-catcher.
For Ave years he vas employed catching
Wharf-Tats In New York for the we'll
known dog fsucier, Harry jennings.
Twice in New York he Won money by
picking mp rats within given time. On
ons occasion he von $50 by picking up
twenty-five Iats In ten minutes. They
we're rats that he had handled before,
aud he ii ] tbs job without receiving q
bite.
Fifty men paid 81 each to sec this last
exhibition, ia Frankfort In the center
Of tho room space eight feet square
was surrounded by tight board fsnce
four feet high. The door was covered
an inch deep with sAwdust. In the oen-
ter Of the pen stood an empty whisky
barrel, tho upper head Of which was re-
placed BY . piece Of canvas with hole
In it, center. The rats were connned in
three thu linsd wooden cages, which stood
In the yard.
While the judge was trying to borrow
q watch, Lewis climbed into the pit. lie
wore q slseveless uudsrshirt, check pan
falcons and brogans. The legs of hia
trousers were tied around the ankles, 10
prevent the rats from taking refuge
therein. His hands and arms were Gov
cred with musk. which he believes will
prevent rats from biting him. Forty
rAts were dumped from Gage into the
pit. They dArtsd wildly around THROUGH
tho saWdust, aud made vain endoavors
10 scale the fenos. Taen they huddled
in q wrigQlinQ mass III one corner, and
the judge gave Lewis the aord 70 begin.
He moved over - the pile Of rats. and
without q moments hesitation, thrust
his naked hands and arms among them
He caught five fat fellows and thrust
them into the barrel. He next picked
up three, then four, then two, and 80 or
until six minutes had expired, whom be
had placed twenty -four Of the rodents
In the barrel.
The rats that remained in the pit were
Wild, and Lewis was compelled 70 catch
them one ct time. The first single rat
he picked mp bit one Of his 6nRers
through the nail TO the bone, and hung
thcss. Lewis jsrksd his hand no and
cent the vicious rat a0Ainst tho ceiling.
The wounded finger VAS dipped in whis.
~ and tho chase was resumed. seven
rats wers picked up and deity tossed
iato the barrel, aud then Lewis was bit.
ten tvjes On TIE ri0ht arm. He received
tour moro v,unds before The fortieth raj
vas Imprisoned In the barrel. Then
forty more we're dum2 ped into the pit.
Lewis worked with great agility, and raj
after rat Was picked up and dropped in
the barrel With great rnpidity. The fifty.
seventh IAt he AStemp:sd to touch sprana
into his face a. be stopped aud bit hil
lower lip. without fiinohing he grabbed
the rat and tossed Il through the canvas
cover. He loss ave minutes staunchina
the blood that flowed from his lip. In
picking up the other twenty three rats
10 vas bitten sliah'ly ave timea Eighty
rats were In the barrel, and Lewis had
only seven minutes in which 10 pick 40
tho remaining twenty. Tho time vas too
limited, and Lewis gave up the job and
cot Out OF the pit.