Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-29
RAT BATTING IN THE DEPARTMENTS
Ferrets and Terriers I'm the Post Once and
Treasury Buildings.

Ferrets and Terriers I'm the Post Once and
Treasury Buildings.
There was great sport up at the Post Once
Department the other day. II il could have
been advertised beforehand and an admission
fee charged the box Office would probably havo
done a big business. Even without this the
audience was distinguished one, being
beaded by Q cabinet officer, no less . person
age than Postmaster General Wanamaker, and
comprising also several assistant postmaster
generais-there are four in the department.
and number Of other officials.
Twenty-seven big rats, gray old patriarchs
of the rodent tribe that had infested the dark
vaults of the building for years and grown
willy and fierce, were cornered In a room and
did battle royal with three understood but
plucky terriers. They say it was q great dght
No one had an opportunity to referee the
rounds. From the beginning until the end
there was a scrambling, scurrying bunch OF
angry rats mixed up with the three dogs,
vicious squeals interrupted by triumphant
barks. crunchlng Of backbones between sharp
little teeth, al occasional angry yelp from n
bitten terrier, and above all the din rising the
applause Of the spectators who stood IN the
doorway watching the scene.
The rats we're outclassed, but they made the
best high. they could. They were finally
knocked out by the terriers One of the wit
nesses. with q tinge of sporting blood in his
veins. said afterward that II beat a cocx fight
all hollow, and as for a dog fght-weli, dog
Eight wasn't IN IL
DESTROYING THE FILES.
For several days previous a professional rat
catcher had been operating in the basement,
aided b. couple OF ferrets and the terriers.
The rats we're 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 pretty
soon there would be heard great scampering
under the foor. A dog would then be sta
toned 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
900 rats we're killed and it is thought the build
ing Is I'D Of them altogether.
RAT BATTING IN TIE TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
The fame of this exploit spread abroad The
Treasury Department people heard of it and
sent for the pied piper OF Hamelin. He agreed
to clear out the rats and promised to do all he
could 20 duplicate the sport which had been
enjoyed at the Post Once Department A
messenger stood ready to summon the ex-
pectant officials as soon as "time" should be
called. The clerks who knew Of il kept their
eyes on their chiefs, ready to follow them when
they were called to witness the fun.
TENrSISE PEoMESADERs SCATTERED.
One DAY the latter part OF last week. at the
noon hour, number of the women clerks we're
promenadirg up and down one Of the long cor
rldors, taking little exercise and exchanging
little feminine secrets and bits OF department
gossip during this midday recess. There were
probably fifteen or twenty in the length of the
corridor. Suddenly at the upper end OF the
corridor there were heard several sharp yelps,
asquesi or two, and down the corridor rushed
three big gray rats, hotly pursued by terrier.
Onward they came like the charge OF the light
brigade. Women to the right of them women
To the left OF them, on came the three rats.
Well, a man who was there says it was q
sight There was one long concerted feminine
shrek, several flashes of white. and in about
twelve seconds The corridor was empty.
The rat killer operated in the building for
several days and killed a large number of rats.
but he did not succeed in cornering any. and
now the officials kicking because they
dldn; get As much fun as the Post 0f:ce De-
partment sports