Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-12
Rats by the Thousand.

A Towanda PA special says: Several
years ago !. farmer living in Burlington
township, this county, received as present
from a friend in England a pair of peculiar
rats. They were about one-third larger
than the common mouse, and their hair was
a 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 tho farm
er's place but the whole neighborhood was
overrun by the rats They became great
nuisance, and were very destructive. All
attempts to cXterminate them failed until .
pair oil pet Norway rats belonging to another
farmer escaped, with a large family ofyoung,
flom their cage. These rats also increased
rapidly and began warfare against the
little blue English pests. In short time the
latter were eXternlinated or driven away.
About Il year ago farmers III different parts
of the township noticed now and then rats
of an enormous size and of breed never
before seen in the county about their pre-.
misses They were nearly as large as musk
rats and of Il light gray color. They ex-
hibitcd very little fear and at times boldly
incs with their owners. These rats are
now overrunning the neighborhood in im'
mense numbers, and have become source
Of much terror to the inhabitants. They
undermine celar-n floors and walls and the
foundations of buildings, and destroy
,uanv cisterns aud ruin milk houses for
the purposes for which they are used. Many
farmers have had to abandon their cellars.
Grauares and barns swarm with them day
and night Farmers say that damage to
the amount of thousands Of dollars has been
done by the pests this season.
TO illustrate their boldness and terocity
several instances OF recent occurrence are
related. A farmers boy entered Il corn
crib in which he had discovered number
of the rats, and attacked them. They
turned upon him and fought him so
tiarcey yhat he was compelled to retreat
and leave them master OF the situation.
Fl was badly bitten on the legs and hands.
In their attack on the BOY they sprang up
ward as high as his waist in their efforts
10 gc1 al his face aud throat. a cat,
after st"a!tEijy watching four of these
+: large rats working about !. house, finally
sprang upon one Of them, Tho other three at
once attacked he cat and fought her 50 desperate
! " that she retired hastily from the conflict,
bleeding from numerous WouhGS lheE haa lhhicI-
| cG upon her with their sharp teeth. One farmer
tells OF 4 ncighbor whose wife was awakened one
might 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 children 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 a long hoe handle, and the third one escaped.
Tie children were hoth hitten on the hands and
| in the face. The Inhabitants otthc neighborhooH
are so much alarmed by the bold and destructive
iuoursions Of these rats that they intend to hold
! meetings to devise some means TO rid the com
; lnu,ity Of their presence. Where the rats came
fro.u originally is mystery. Some of the farmers
/ believe that they are cross between the Norway
rat and the ,nuskrat, which are numerous in the
vicinity.