Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-03-16
THE CITY RATCATCHER
AN IMPORTANT OFFICER or
PARIS.

the Sewers. . Kew the rats are
Caught Alive.
Certainly you may II you 50 wish,
but warn you II will not be as pleas.
ant an affair as promenade on the
boulevard. This was the reply Of
the official rat catcher Of Paris to a
request made by the Chicago Herald
man to accompany him on one OF his
underground hunts. This official Is
o most interesting parsonage, and
enjoys an almost national reputation
on account OF his Office. He is the
lord high chief executioner Of the
thousands OF rats which infest the
sewers OF this great city. Unlike
his brother official Diebler, who chops
of the heads Of all sorts OF people
and Is detested by everybody, this
Jolly little man Is most popular with
all classes, high and low. He is q
dried up, energetic little chap, and
has followed the profession Of rat
catcher. or, rs he hns 1t. rat bunter,
for thirty.three years, during which
time he has caught over q million
rats alive with his hands, not count
ing those caught in traps. His name
Is Henry Dayve, and he presents his
card with as much pride Us the Due
d'Orleans. His card Is emblazoned
with crest formed by two rats
rampant, with tails entwined as q
monogram and holding a rat trap
aloft. Below this is tho inscription,
''Hcnry Dayve, official rat hunter Of
Paris, and purveyor Of rats to all
French and foreign societies.
The rat catcher and his assistant
start out on their circuit about )
o. clock in the afternoon. Their out.
fit consists OF u little hand cart, in
which Is thrown the implements
needed for the chase. These are sim
pie enough and consist OF few red
painted boards for barriers, some
very much overgrown rat traps, q
couple OF sacks Of stout material, n
bag OF pebbles. u pickax, two bulls
eye lanterns, two pairs OF gauntlets
made Of very thick rubber, and an
equal number OF pairs OF superb
sewer boots made expressly and in.
dispensable for this kind OF business.
The newspaper man was furnished
with q pretty complete outfit and
the procession moved toward the
point Of attack.
Halt was made at q corner and
Dayve took his short clay pipe out
Of his mouth and gave shrlll
whistle. His assistant lifted up the
cover OF the sewer and the party dis
appeared fellow the street. During
the day this huge network OF under.
ground arteries has its busy popu.
lation as we'll rs the streets above.
Scores Of telegraph and telephone
wire stretchers, sewer repairers,
pneumatic tube layers and others
work daily In these gloomy and
damp tunnels. Toward nightfall
! all these artisans leave this cave oil
gloom. Then tho rats commence
their high jinks Of reveling and
feasting, not dreaming that theil
/. dreaded nemesis will soon descend
: upon them. The rat catcher doni
his armor and Is soon ready for tn,
fray. He has his sack tied securely
under his left arm. his hands are
covered with the rubber gauntlets
and no now puts handful OF peb
bles In convenient pocket. Stand
], ing Immediately below tho sewer.
opening the air was not pecially
bad, but the master Of ceremonie:
2. made sign and we turned into {
black, narrow and Shiny brancl
sewer, where on overpowering fetit
}. odor greeted our nostrils. The blint
lanterns threw just light enough t
prevent me from actually gropin!
as, doubled up, I followed my tw,
companions, who were evidentl,
/, quite ut home In this beastly hole.
> Suddenly Dayve stopped before
deep niche looking cavity. He tool
pebble from his pocket and threw
1t violently against the wall in from
Of him. Instantly there wasa grea
J. scrambllng and squealing; a Who'll
colony OF rats had been located. Tn
assistant quickly put up the befor
mentioned barrier to prevent any es
3 cape Of the rodents, and then the ligh
OF the lanterns was turned full Of
tho frightened little beasts. which
blinded, ran directly against 1t. No,
the remarkable dexterity Of the ra
catcher came into play. One rcall
forgot tho unpleasant surrounding
In watching this little man, who's
{, eyes shone very much like those OF hi
Victims as he, quick % lightning
grabbed one after another an
dropped 1t In the bag. He SCENE
to thoroughly enjoy tho excite
hoarse laugh as the rats squeale
like mad. In less time tina
1t takes to write 1t he had depopu
lated this nest and given the signG
" for new move.
We then turned into tho sewer o
the quarter or tho branch leading I
the grand sewer general, Hero &c
= some, to me, unknown reason the u
was terribly hot. The valiant lit
rat catcher made us wait ut til
opening and gave some instruction
to his assistant. A barrier was raise
ID almost covering the mouth of til
Il place, with the exception OF no
about half foot square. linn
diately below this was told TO ho
bag. The hole was almost lev
o. with my shoulders, and l did us
was told, not knowing what the =
suit would be. l soon found OH
A lantern was fixed on the wall baC
\ of the opening in the barrier. II
II ..A h,,ta,, ,nl hi, II