Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-06-01
RAT BATTING IN WASHINGTON.
Ferrets and Terriers In the PostofIics
and Treasury BUILDINGS

and Treasury Buildings
There was great sport up at the
Postoffice Department the other day.
II it could have been advertised be.
fore hand and an admission fee charged
the box Office would probably have
done big business. Even without
this the audience was a distinguished
one, being headed by cabinet officer,
no less parsonage than Postmaster
General Wannamaker, and compris.
ing also several assistant Postmaster
Generals-there are four in the de-
partment-and a number of othey
officials.
Twenty-seven big rats, gray old pa.
triarchs of the rodent tribe, that had
infested the dark vaults of the build
Ing for years and grown willy and
fierce, were cornered in a room and
did battle royal with three under
sized but plucky terriers, They say
1t was great fight. No one had an
opportunity to referee the rounds
From the beginning until the end
there was scrambling, scurrying
bunch Of angry rats mixed up with
the three dogs, vicious squeals inter-
rupted by triumphant barks, crunch
Ing Of backbones between sharp little
teeth, an occasional angry yelp from
bitten terrier, and above all the din
rising the applause Of the spectators
who stood in the doorway watching
the scene.
The rats were outclassed, but they
made the best fight they could. They
were finally knocked out by the ter
riers. One of the witnesses, with a
tinge of sporting blood in his veins,
said afterward that it beat a cock
fight all hollow, and as for a dog
dght-well, dog fight wasn't in it.
For several days previous a pro-
feSsional rat catcher had been oper.
ating in the basement, aided by a
couple of ferrets and the terriers.
The rats were destroying the files and
IL was necessary to get rid of them.
This modern pied piper of Hamelin
put the ferrets in the rat holes. They
would disappear and Ipretty soon
there would be heard a great seam
pering under the floor. A dog would
then be stationed beside the hole to
kill any rats that came that way.
Usually the rats were driven before
the ferrets and would come out at the
opposite end of the building That's
how SO many were cornered in one
room. At least 500 rats were killed
and it is thought the building is rid
Of them altogether
The fame of this exploit spread
abroad. The Treasury Department
people heard of 1T and sent for the
pied piper Hamelin. He agreed to
clear out the rats and promised to do
all he could to duplicate the sport
which had been enjoyed at the Post
Office Department. A messenger
stood ready to summon the expecuant
officials as soon as 'time" should be
called. The clerks who knew OF it
Kept their eyes on their chiefs, ready
to follow them when they were called
to witness the fun,
one day the latter part Of last
week, at the noon hour, a number Ct
women clerks were prOmenading up
and down one Of the long corridors,
taking little exercise and exchang-
lh5 IllliC StCItlS anu DlIS
0f department gossip during this
midday recess. There were probably
dfteen or twenty in the length OF the
corridor Suddenly at the upper end
If the corridor there were heard sew
,ral sharp yelps, a squeal or two and
lown the corridor rushed three big
gray rats hotly pursued by a terrier. q,
Onward they came like the charge OF
.he light brigade. Women 20 the
tight OF them, women to the left OF
hem, on came came the three rats.
Well, man who was there says it |
Vas sight There was one long con.
;erted feminine shrek, several flashes
If white, and in about twelve seconds
he corridor was empty.
The rat killer operated in the
for several days and killed a
arge number OF rats, but he did not
ucceed in cornering any; and now
he officials are kicking because they
lidn't get as much fun as the Post
'tfice Department sports. Washing
on Star.