Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-05-17
a Battle VIII, Rats.

1t Is the custom OF the Ninth Street Cable
Company, in Kansas City, and, in fact, of
all the cable companies, to send meu into
ped at night, to oil the wheels or pulleys
over which the cable runs. The grease used
tor this purpose is of the consistency Of tel
| low, OF which it is largely composed. Bees
wax is another constituent of the dope"
| as the men call the material. The presence
of this dope" attracts to the conduit large
numbers of rats, which feed upon it. The
rodents are larger than ordinary house rats,
and are possessed Of greater strength and
courage.
| One morning Edward Duffy, one of the
| dope men, entered the conduit at the open
ing Just west of Walnut street. He carried
with MIN bucket Of dope and an ordinary
railroad lamp. Duffy was dressed in suit
OF yellow oilcloth, such as butchers year
when at work in large packing houses. A
slightCain vas falling and q stream of muddy
! water wss running through the bottom of
the conduit. When Duffy entered the
opening be lef5 q companion, Mcmahon,
on the outside. Duffy h3d moved west to
the second wheel, and was applying the
dope, when squeeliug noise in the front
he could see The forms Of an army of rats
pressing toward him up to the inciining con-
duit. At sight of the light the foremost ones
eeemed endeavoring to stop, but SO great
was the pressure OF the swarm behind that
the rats in the rear were piling pell-mell
over those in front.
Duffy mad often encountered the rats while
at his work, but they bad never before come
so cioao TO him. As they approached he
cried at tho top of his voice and geaticulated
wildly ia an e1Ort TO ffightea them, but
they seemed impolied by greater fear and on
they caioe. The mau an - that he was in
danger, nnG thrust his hand under his oil
skin overais in vain effort to reach his
pocket knife. The cramped position made
him awkward, snd in his hurry :arew him
from his baiauce The left hand, on which
he bad been saDiDg, slipped or The muddy
side of the conduit and he fell np0n his face.
la BID Instant, before ne could rise, the ver-
min were upon MIN and bore him down by
the very force OF their accumulated weight.
Duffy says that in the danger Of his pos
tion he seemed TO think with repidity that
he never knew the human Intellect was Ca.
pable Of. His whole life passed in review
before him. He soon found himself ar.
guirg the reason Of The strange at
uhCE. TIC Thought, as was l16 case, tnaG
the water had filled up the conduit in the
down grades, and had driven the rats up
the incline. All these thoughts occurred 10
him in the moment of his fall and the rush
of the rata. The next moment the teeth of
the rats called his energies 10 the defensive.
He could feel them on nearly every portion
of his body but most cruelty upon his neck
and hands. Duffy screamed for AIcMaboD,
and fought with the desperation Of dying
man.
He clutched the rats in grip that crushed
their bones into pulp, but the few be thus
disabled were nothing to the host be had TO
meet. Fortunately for Duffy, just as be was
about to succumb the lamp he carried was
overturned and the globe broken In sec.
end the flames caught the rope and comu1u-
nicated 10 the greasy coats of the rats. With
screams that were almost human, the rats
fed in every direction, leaving long steaks
of flame behind them like the trails of living
comets
Mcmahon By this time reached trap
near Duffy, and catching him by the heels
drew him, more dead than alive, to the
street Restorative5 were administered,
and the sinking man was carried to drug
store, where his wounds were dressed. An
ambulance was then called, and Duffy was
sent to his home. The affair was kept as
quiet as possible, as it was feared Duffy's ex.
perierce would deter others from engaging
in the work.-Memphis Aualanche.