Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-04-05
THE RATS WORST FOE.
How the Ferret ATTACKS and Van
quishes Rodents.
A Deadly Duel Between One Of the Clumsy
wsasels and n Pugnacious Rat-The
Wonderful Tenacity OF the
Ferrets Hold.

Clearing rats out of several large build
ings by the use Of ferrets recently started
some queer stories of the relations Of the
ferret and the rat, which have excited the
derision of a retired rat-catcher--or rather
rat exterminator - says the Philadelphia
Press. He is a man who has prosecuted his
calling in all the large cities OF the country
and once had the honor of being employed
by the Government to clean out the United
States Treasury building at Washington.
81 see," he said, in telling his version OF
ferret VS.. rat, ''that some one has discovered
that rat won't fight a ferret, and that the
moment the ferret gets close TO him the raj
gives up. That's queer yarn for truth
teller. Come along and I'll let you see for
yourself. I'm out Of the business, but have
couple of terrets, and I've an accommo
dating friend who'll lend me q couple OF
rats"
The two went to the ex-rat-catcher's resi-.
dence, where he brought from the cellar q
cage similar to those in which rat-extermi.
nators carry their ferrets. Looking through
the holes in the top Of it all that could be
seen were two pairs of small eyes, brill.
liant, baleful green. They belonged to two
brown ferrets of English stock, and were
said by their owner to be of q superior breed.
Wrapping the box in q piece of paper for
appearances sake, and punching some holes
in 1t for the animals sake, the ex-professor
set out with the reporter for the residence
Of the friend who had rats In stock. On the
way to the theater of experiment the man
learned in ferrets and rats descanted on the
minutie of his calling.
"You know a rat doesn't have to be
taught that ferret is his natural enemy,
and he has q mortal terror Of the little
beast II there is a ferret within rod Of a
swarm Of rats they'll all clear out and keep
going for mile to get to other quarters.
You must know, too, that while a ferret's
body looks big his head is the biggest part
Of him, and wherever his head can go the
rest can follow easily.
"A ferret doesn't often catch O rat in a
run, for the rat is fast and the ferret very
slow. Sometimes they do catch one, and
then it's hard work to get that ferret back.
He'll load up on the rats blood and go loaf
ing around, instead of attending to business; !;
stay In there, perhaps, to do some hunting
on his own account. I've lost ferrets in
stables, where they have wandered on into
side runs, caught a rat or two, and laid out
q future for themselves on the premises.
Sometimes ferret will come to his owners
whistle, but generally we have to keep a
sharp lookout and pick them up as they fol-
low the rats out of the Lole. Well, here we
are"
The two men entered a sporting resort; it
was in the Kensington district. The ratter
remarked; "Billy, want to show this gen
tleman an experiment; let's have the little
room" The little room was an apartment
eight feet long and six feet wide, and utter
ly without furniture. The window-sills
were high and broad, and these were used
for seats.
Tho proprietor Of the establishment alb
sented himself a minute or two and re-
turned with a large rat In his leather.
gloved hand and when the door was closed
dropped it squeaking on the floor. From
box on his lap the ratter, also with his
right hand in leather glove, drew ferret
ana dropped IL on the moor. Inc three
watchers of the impending tragedy were
sitting with their feet swinging foot and
a half from the bare, unincumbered floor.
When the rat had first been released 1t
had scampered around the waiuscoting,
looking for escape, but when the ferret was
dropped it stopped moment as If in con-
sternation and then made for the corner
farthest from the enemy. AS the ferret
advanced, stealthily, his neck stretched
and his nose protruding, the rat made
break and got farther away. The ferret
had some difficulty in following the rapid
motions of the rat on account of the room
being light, but he kept the trailing process
up until within four or five minutes froLl
the start the rat was in corner anu which
ever way he turned the ferret turned, too,
to head him off. This process was kept up
until not more than foot separated them,
and then the rat deliberately raised ON its
launches and prepared to fight. The ferret
drew nearer until they were six inches
apart, and, rearing up as the other had,
there was an actual sparring match. The
ferret made plunge for the rats jugular,
but the latter lodged and bit back vicious
ly.
In an instant the two fought terociously,
the rat making no attempt at escape, but
fighting for dear life. They separated and
again on their launches had another spar
ring bout. The rat left an opening, and,
quick as an expert boxer, the ferret took
advantage of it, made a rattlesnake sort of
dart with his head, and seized the rat just
behind the ear. There was lively wrest-
ling-match, but the rat could not loose his
antagonists hold. He tried to bite, but the
hold was such that he couldn't and very
soon it was all over with his ratship. To
exhibit tie tenacity Of the ferret's hold the
rat man picked up the rat by the hind leg
and rat and ferret hung dangling in the air.
The ferret was picked up In like manner,
buthe would not break his hold
A second rat was let loose with the sec
ond ferret and the performance was repeat
ed to nicely, with the exception that this
rat was trifle more pugnacious and fought
harder for his life.
A Very AstOnished MuSsoiaa,
One adventure of dead Bottesini's should
be remembered. He was playing one night