Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15

was in this same ship and same cruise. We
had stopped at Norfolk some time, which
gave the Virginia rats an opportunity to
come on board and find quarters, and when
the ship hauled out into the stream they
had to go to sea nolens-volens They found
no objection to the Boston rats already en-
sconced in the depths of our holds-in fact,
they struck up q copartnership, Joined
forces, increased rapidly and speed
lily became bold and aggressive By
the time we had finished our IS
months cruise on the African coast
and arrived in the Mediterranean, it was
determined to commence proceedings
against them. Matters had become SO
bad that it was difficult to get good
sleep below. They would consume and
spoil barrel of -four in 4S hours
They went aloft at night and ruined our
sails when furled. Many of the crew suf-
fered from their bites. We had number
of cats on board, but the rats had no fear
of them.
Trying to Smoke Out the Rats.
1t was determined to smoke them out
Our First Lieutenant took the matter In
charge. He took the ship to Spezzia, at
that time only a small town, its shores as
wild as if it were situated on our north
west coast, instead of Italy-a place we'll
adapted to our purpose. Upon anchoring
we commenced operations by bringing up
from the berth deck to the main deck all of
the mess gear, mems bags and officers
clothing, bedding and enough provisions to
last q week The awnings were spread on
the spardeck, the curtains got up, the deck
divided off into mess rooms by canvas
screens-everything made as comfortable as
could be.
After all had moved to the spar and main
decks, the holds were broken out, and every
box barrel, coil of rope, etc., was slowed in
the wings of the berth deck. Gratings were
placed over the matches and covered with
tarpaullns; in the center of each was fitted
pane of glass, so that all below it on the
berth deck could be seen.
On the deck, directly under the pane of
glass in the hatchway above, a shallow
wooden box, about four feet square, was set
and filled with sand. On this sand was placed
a drying stove filled with charcoal, and
around it was placed low-sided vessels filled
with water.
When all this had been completed on the
berth deck, every soul except the men sta
toned to light the fires was ordered up
from below. Then the fires were lighted
and the men who lit them came up. The
hatchways we're closed and cemented so no
air could get below.
Killed Both Rats and Cats.
For three days the matches RENAME
closed. On the fourth day the tarpaulins
were taken off and wind sails put down each
hatchway. On the evening of this day
man was sent down in bowline to take out
the air ports. But as soon as he waP down
he became insensible and was Immediately
hauled up. No one was suffered to go
below again until next day, when the air
ports we're taken out and the air allowed to
circulate.
Upon inspection it was found that each
fire was surrounded by rats that had
gathered there, as being the last place
where air could be found to breathe. Bucket
ful after bucketful of these creatures were
passed up of all ages and sizes until $50 odd
rats were counted and thrown overheard
together with the six cats that could not be
coaIed from the holds to the upper decks
After general overhauling below and
renovating, the holds and storerooms
were restowed and the people moved
back to their quarters on the berth deck.
As far as we could discover, only one rat
escaped with its life; it found safety in
the timbers under the quarter gallery,
where some fresh air entered through a
crack in one of the seams.
The remainder of the cruise was most
delightful one But even now 1 never
think of that cruise without remembering
these incidents, and also that of all the Off
GERS who were serving on board that ship
during that cruise am the only living one
remaining in the service!
L. A. KIMBERLY.