St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-26
RATS BY THE THOUSAND.
The Unpleasant Experience Of the Farmers
ofG Pen, syteaniG Tosrnship.
n. Y. Times

The Unpleasant Experience of Ae Farmers
ofG Pen, syIeania Tosrnship.
n. Y. Times.
TowANDA, Pa.-several years ago farmer
living in Burlington township, this county,
received as a present from a friend in Eng
land pair of peculiar rats They were
about one-third larger than the common
mouse and their hair was dark blue color
The farmer kept them in large cage, where
large litter OF young ones was born. These
scattered about the premises, and in a year
not only the farmers place but the whole
neighborhood was overrun by the rats.
They became 4 great nuisance and were
very destructive. All attempts 10 extermiu-
ate them failed until a pair of pet Norman
rats belonging to another farmer escaped,
with large family of young, from their
cage. These rats also increased rapidly and
began warfare against the little blue Eng
fish pests. In short time the latter were
exterminated or driven away. About year
ago farmers in different parts of the township
noticed now and then rats of an enormous
size and of a breed never before seen in the
county about their premises. They were
nearly as large as muskrats and OF a light
gray color. They exhibited very little fear
and at times boldly disputed possession OF
the barns and outbuildings with their owners.
These rats are now overrunning the neihbor-
hood in immense numbers, and have be-
come source of much terror to the inhabi-
tants. They undermine cellar floors and
walls and the foundations of buildings, and
destroyed many cisterns and ruined milk
hnucpe for fha mn for Uhfab fhav
used. Many farmers have had to abandon
their cellars Granaries and barns swarm
with them day and night Farmers say that
damage to the amount of thousands of dol
lars has been done by the pests this season.
To illustrate their boldness and ferociiy
several instances of recent occurrence are
related. A farmers boy entered corn crib,
in which he had discovered a number of the
rats, and attacked them. They turned npon
him and fought him so fercely that be was
compelled to retreat and leave them masters
Of the situation. He was badly bitten on the
legs and hands. In their attack on the boy
they sprang upward as high as his waist in
their efforts to get at his face and throat. A
cat, after stealthily watching four of these
large rats working about the house, finally
sprang upon one of them. The other three
at once attacked the cat, and fought her so
desperately that she retired hastily from the
conflict, bleeding from numerous wounds
they had inflicted upon her with their sharp
teeth. One farmer tells Of a neighbor
whose wife was awakened one night
by screams issuing from room where two of
her small children were sleeping. She ran
to the room with light, and found that three
of the immense rats had attacked the chill
dren while they were asleep, and who stood
their ground when the mother came to their
rescue, followed by the father. The latter
killed two of the rats, with . long hoe handle,
and the third one escaped. The children
were both bitten on the hands and in the
face. The inhabitants of the neighborhood
are so much alarmed by the bold and de-
structive incursions of these rats that they
intend to hold meetings to devise some
means to rid the community of their pres
ence. Where the rats came from originally
is mystery. Some of the farmers believe
hat they are cross between the Norway rat
and the muskrat, which are numerous in the
vicinity.