Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-05
WARE RATS.
A Visit to the Feeding Grounds Of
Myriamds of the Rodents.
"nid WON aver sec AM ARMY al ratsar

"pid you ever see an army a. rats"
This was the question that "French
Iouis'' fired at a New York Evening Sun
reporter several weeks ago. For the benefit
OF those that have never heard Of French
Louis, IL might oe said right here that he is
the night Waterman at the Hoboken ferry,
on the Jersey side of the river. He is a man
of adventure and romonce. Whom he speaks
IL is generally with authority and know
ledge of the world. Hence il was that the
reporters curiosity was naturally excited.
"If you will come with mo-" continued
French Louis, "I'll show you something
that you won't forgot right away"
The reporter hes;tated, for II was then
near midnight and a heavy fog hung over the
river, sending chills TO the very marrow
1t was one Of those sepulchural kind OF
nights when graveyards yawn and every
thing appears weird and ghoulish.
Come" the watchman reiterated. He
took the reporter by the arm and led him TO
the basin adjoining the ferry slip, where
small fiat scow was moored. lie took from
his pocket a small dark lantern and flashed
1t across the basin. He then jumped into
the boat and babe the reporter TO follow
him. The moorings were loosened and the
next moment the numbering old tub was
pushing out into the stream. The reporter
noticed that the oars were muffied, but he
was much more surprised, however. 10 OBJ
serve the Waterman draw from his hip
pocket a ve-barrelei revolver, which he
placed on the seat beside him Conversa
ton was suddenly suspended.
The reporter made several attempts 70
ascertain the objective point OF the eXcur-
sion, but was each time squelched by the
admonition: NUNS the word" A ripple
at the bow, the splash Of the oars, the dis
NAL blast of the ferry boats whistle, and
the changing of the fog bells were the only
sounds that disturbed the nights serenity.
The boat swung round into one OF the ferry
slips and was quickly rowed 10 the bridge.
AS we approached the bridge Louis again
drew his lantern out Of his pocket and
flashed il once or twice under the ferry
house.
He appeared satisfied and acain resumed
rowing. He proceeded under the bridge.
The atmosphere was chilly, close, and
sitting. 1t was as dark as Egypt. Cob
webs hung from the rafters and the soft
silken fibers were caught in the face and
har as the boat pushed on. Barnacles
growing on the piers and piles glstened in
the darkness.
After proceeding several hundred feet
underneath the ferry house Louis again
drew out his lantern. He turned the light
full on and flashed ii up on the shore. Rats
INDUSTRIOUS rats OF the size Of cats-were
sWarnlng by the hundreds on the sOft,
marshy ground. Their little pink eyes up
peared like stars in the darkness and
danced and scintillated as they frolicked
about
Their antics were amusing ard kittensh
IN the extreme. The rats feeding on the
refuse from the larder Of the Bremen steam
ships. They would run down To the waters
edge and seZing some article OF food would
carry it back to the higher ground
wen have some shooting" remarked
Louis, as he picked up his revolver and
blazed away at the innocent creatures. His
craftsmanship had no effect and the rats
continued u reyel in their midnight lunch
con. Some OF them, more bold than others,
plunged into the water and swan out for
some particular piece Of refuse
Others would sit up on their launches
and look as seddte as judges as they
stroked their mouth with both paws. Sever
al were apparently engaged in game Of tag
and raced Up and down the shore in high
glee.
"These fellows" said Louis "a he picked
up his oars and rowed back "are always to
be found at low water. They come out OF
their nests 20 feed and hold high carnival.
YoI have seen a sight that few persons are
privileged TO do The reporter thought so,
too.