The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-19
SLAUGHTER OF MUSKRATs.
A Pennsylvania city Swarms with These
Rodents Driven Ashore by Flood.

A Pennsylvania City Swarms with These
Rodents Driven Ashore by Flood.
WILKEspARRE. Pa. March IA most OK
citing incident OF the flood on the Susque-
hanna River at this point to-day was q musk
rat hunt. caused by the water pouring into
their holes along the reedy banks and forcing
them to the surface. The Ice was packed be-
tween banks In huge. irregular cakes. and ex-
tended for a mile over the low lands on the
west side to the foothills ct Kingston. sub
merging thousands OF acres. A little after the
noon hour the crowds on the east banks
noticed a number OF muskrats emerging from
open places In the Ice. At first they came into
view slowly and ut different points. but In a
short lime after the shore ice for a long dis
lance was covered with them. They scrambled
In all directions. but the surface being
ragged and broken 1t was impossible for
Thorn to make rapid Roadway. Hundreds
Of mon and boys set to work at
once in an indescribable slaughter OF
the hairy rodents. whose skins are worth 20
cents apiece. In less than twenty minutes
the banks for nearly O mile, were lined with
rnt hunters. who attacked the animals YIN
clubs, sticks. and stones, Only a few had
guns. Popular attention OF the thousands OF
river from the long bridges was diverted to
Killers. II T Tspor !" q the extraordiSary Sport
few over the town. and when the schools
S.1ssn 80 NEE boy a,' armed himself with a Shiny
stick and started for the hunting grounds. 1t
VA Tss t frsnt iun for the Wat lnas t ths s greae iu rst ior
foEeemsnts from the PUBLIC schools; ,,...
OF the town. Here It's tanks are stationed, as
we'll as is boiler house and engines. They
the near Vicinity the muskrats seem' to have
built many nests. for here 1t was that they
MsT nscns sm II % on tbs G as0S camp pa %er was sarIs
at the works and saw the rats coming out OF
their holes. He is known as . famous calcu5
and. O'clock. while he was at the gas works.
not less than 5000 muskrats made their ap;
boys chased them, The. rodents, scampered
oyer the laggsd surface OF TIE blocked ice: and
W. Wn'i nar .nsy sn maesf heir 70 pu ss 5 es tum b IedW over
awhile guns were brought into play. but the
oithe flying bullets. which frequently new in
close proximity to the SPECTATORS on the
the juvenile hunters was little Jimmy Roach.
the son q a wellIknown miner: and a pupil IN
hut with a stout stick he slaughtered, no less
than n w before he duit .uI hs lq 3Sam them p y w ieto
S6T. 10 for the lot. he relieving Jimmy from the
S %Srs ,a Of Il Ik ia \ a6s: a .ns% Rit. HWe aIt.4ys E E"6sksi
1873 over. There never was such an uncarth-
ing and slsuehtcg Of suhte,ranean rodents In
were reminded OF other Hoods. far more SIG
nincant in their alarming proportions than
this. hut could not recall such n mighty scram-
Die Of m uskrats from their holes.
Naturally hundreds OF musk rats escaped In
to the streets and MADE their way into the
yards OF elegant residences on River street.
where dwell the w-althirst nnople. among
them many notsd coal kings, The. activity OF
the animals WIS heightened by fright. and
they invaded the k~itchens. to scare servant
maids out II their wits. Many OF these ran
frightened to death. Not a few tainted dead
nway. Barns anil stables swarmed with ro-
dents. some got Into the heart Of the. town
among the clerks and politicians. who dropped
work and discussion 10 fight them. II wasa
and iatnand weighed on an average eight
bound 4nieea