The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15
RATS INVADE AN ISLAND.
Inhabitants Compelled to Fly
Before an Army Of Hungry
Rodents.
Many People Bitten and Every YES
tIge of Vegetation Destroyed
by the Invaders.

TITUSVILLE, FLA, Aug. 1.-THE is
land of Tropic, twenty miles south of here
has been invaded by an army of savage
rats, and the inhabitants have been forced
to fee for their lives.
Tropic is three miles long and two miles
wide, and the soil is very fertile. A dozen
families have settled on the island and en-.
gagged in growing vegetables for market.
George Butler, one of the settlers, has just
reached here, and tells thrilling tale OF
the invasion and subiugation of Tropic by
the rats.
Up to a month ago, according to Butler,
there were no rats on the island. At that
time the advance guard of the rodents ar
rived, and were quickly followed by others,
until in two weeks there were fully 10000
on the island. The rats came from the
mainland, which is only two miles away,
and Butler says that they swan across
He saws he has seen them coming out oi
the water by hundreds.
At first the rats contented themselve:
with attacks on the vegetables, which were
soon destroyed. Then they invaded the
homes of the settlers. The latter made
Butler says that he has killed as many as
hundred without stop, but that Others
would rush forward and attack him, biting
him viciously on the legs.
In spite of the slaughter the rats got into
the houses and attacked the women and
children. Several of the latter were badly
torn by the sharp fangs of the rodents.
One baby was so severely bitten about the
face that its life is despaired of. For three
nights not soul on the island slept. as
that would have meant death.
At last the people in terror and worn
out fed in their boats to the mainland,
where they are now encamped in desti-
tute condition. The rats pursued them to
the waters edge and the women and chill
dren were repeatedly bitten before the
boats could be pushed off. Every vestige
of vegetation has been destroyed on the
island and it resembles desert. The rats
are described as gray in color and mon
strous in size, being larger than squirrels.
WHITEC4P LEADERS CAPTURED.
Sheppard aud Hjnsoa Placed Behind the
Bars.
PARIS, Tex, Aug. 1.-two more i'm
portant whitecap arrests have been made
since last night. Will Sheppard and Rube
Hinson, both of whom were implicated by
the confession of Kitchen, as chronicled in
the dispatches of last night, are now safely
behind the bars.
Sheppard was caught while endeavoring
to leave the country at rapid pace. He
was heavily armed, but was taken by sur
prise. Hinson, the organizer and ringleader
of the gang in this county, was also taken
in like manner. Federal authorities to-
day decided to take hand in the situa-
ton, and a force of Deputy Marshals will
scour the country and run the gang down
to man.
Kitchen trembled like leaf when max.
ing his confession when he described the
oath administered to members. The pen
atty for divulging any of the secrets OF the
gang was death. The situation is more
peaceful and the negroes are becoming
somewhat quieted again. No news from
the seat of trouble in Delta County was
received to-day.