The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-22

strange connected with such an occur
renee.
Wei. II I was a reporter could
write a column for the Eagle and I
would take that rat for a subject" At
this the usual quiet Joe broke into
laughter that made the streets resOund-
ed with merrment
We'll. Joe. tell Us the story. because
IL seems certain that you have one.
suggested the reporter
We'll. / viii tell you. but / don't
want II published. But il is too good
TO keep anyway. and II some OF you
boys have piece OF tobacco viii tell
the story:
As is known by all old settlers rats
were. in early days. an unknown thing
in Wichita In fact person never
saw a rat in Wichita until after the
graSshoppers came in 1874 Now !
don't mean 10 bear out the idea that
the graSshoppers had anything 10 do
with the rats eTn1grating 70 Wichita.
but the first rat remember Of having
seen in this city was along in the sum
mer OF 1876.
AT that time Fritz Schnitzier had
moved in from his claim out on the
Cowskin and was conducting a reStaur-
ant Wichita was booming in those
days and the majority OF the men in
town Were single and boarded at the
various restaurants.
1T was a warm evening and Fritz
came 10 the door and said he heard a
rat over in the corner gnawtng al
box which contained some Sgenuine
hnberger cheese. Fritz had lately re-
turned from trip TO the old country
and among other things which he
brought back with him was a timber
ger cheese. which was one OF the loud
Syraffrcy r,Y0drfnfS Of thu dairy q ~
barnyard that had ever passed through
Castle Garden. I didn't wonder MAT
Fritz was able TO bring many relics
back with him from the Fatherland
without paying much tariff He had
that cheese in bfg wooden chest and
there was no danger of a tariff coliec-
tor remaining long in the neighborhood
OF the cheese. especially II that cheese
was allowed to have full sway. The
only way the cheese could stay in the
room. or rather any person outside OF
Fritz. could remain was 10 enfoid the
cheese in a heavy wrapping OF tinfoil.
or something OF that kind.
II remember that the boys used 20
have a habit Of hanging around the
office frequently after coming out OF
the dining room, and all Fritz had TO do
was to rails the lid of that old chest and
with a broom straw or a pin turn that
would be emptied.
"Of course the regular boarders knew
where the outlandssh smell came from.
because they were onto the racket,
but IL was no uncommon thing for
stranger 10 leave the room and go out
and cuss the idea of trying 10 build
city in a valley, where they declared IL
was impossible 10 ever have proper
sewerage.
were rats in his house. / would not
believe the report a first, but he show
ed me where one had gnawed hole in
the floor. and also where 1t had tackled
his cheese chest. i had thought little
Of rats before that, but when learned
that Wichita was being visited by
varmine with depraved appetite enough
to tackle that Limberger cheese 1 was
red hot and promised Fritz l would
help him to massacre the rats.
''One evening the boys were sitting
in the front veranda talking. All OF
the girls were there, The streets were
full of people promenading. when Fritz
come to the door and said: Get a club
Joe. he is at the cheese"
Il picked up a bail bat and started
for the chest. I told Fritz TO put his
foot over the hole and shut the door.
/ held my nose as | approached the
CneSt, because tndt Fdt nAu StaFlen the
cheese 10 sinking a regular Old hoe
down. In fact, the stencil was waltz
ing about the room in fine shape. l
opened the lid and out jumped the rat.
He started for the hole. but found
FritZ's foot there. He did nothing else
but go up Fritz leg and then the fun
commenced
If any OF you boys think that Fritz
Is not active you are mistaken WITH
that rat up his leg he jumped 10 the
top of the counter. which was five feet
high and gave whoop that would
have done credit TO a 0omanch Indian.
Of course all the girls looked into the
window to see what was the rumpus
but Fritz was too much interested in
that rat TO care whether the queen OF
England was looking Down came
everythin, and uD some place near his
breast he held the rat in the folds OF his
shirt.
Let loose OF your shirt said some
one. He did so and the rat fell 20 the
ground and escaped That was the /
first rat evr saw in Wichita, and I I
never laughed so in my life. / had /
seen many a rat since that time. but I I
viii never forget the first rat / met IN /
TIL -