The evening times., 1895-11-08
PENSION OFtIlt RODENTS
Building orerrun With the De-
structive Little Animals.
CLERKS DELIVERER AT HAND
Thomas w. Malone and His Three
Dogs, PeeknbOO, Sa IN and Shag, Be-
gin II War of Extermina tiOn-CO M
missioner Couldn't Solve the Vex-
Ing Problem.

Office. They are not plain, every day rats,
but are veterans, some having served In
several wars-Or rodeuts.
About eight months ago II was found that
the immense building was being overrun
by the animals. Besides annoying tue ladies
employed in the office, the rodents would
get among the files In the upper stories OF
the building, and have destroyed and mu-
tilated a number of valuable papers.
For a time IL was no unusual sight to
see some female clerk jump upon a desk
aud begin to scream at the top Of her voice.
Inquiry into her sanity and what hlllucina-
ton she was laboring under usually revealed
the fact that she had seen a wandering
| rat. Not a deinure little mouse, but n real
| live specimen of the genus rat.
The antics of certain OF the clerks who
had spent the vacation out of the city
caused several new styles in colored ho-
siery to be introduced 10 the unfortunates
who had renaincd at home.
A BURNING QUESTION.
The rat question was the burinG issue
in the Pension Office, and, as Gen. Han
cock once said of the tariff, it was 'sscfely
local ISSUE
Finally il was referred to the Commits
sioner for adjudication. lie pondercd over
the momentuus question for some inc and
even then could not solve IL.
He called his chiefs in consultation, but
even men resembling as they did the wise
men of the east cnu.d offer No way out OF
the difficulty
During all these consultations and sug-
gestions as To the best possible way or eN-
terminating the pests the rats kept on
multiplying, and some or the high carni-
vais held by them would beggar descrip-
ton.
1t Is said that down in the basement,
where Che engine rooms-are the rats used
to come out in drnves and sit on the boil
ers in order to keep warm. One OF the
Tiremen had to be dcta lied to keep the coal
in the bunkcrs, as the rats, running over
il in herds, scattered it all over the build
ing. There are some great stories in circu-
lation around the office about the dOings
OF the unwelcome visitors.
During the agitation by the Society for
the Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Animals over
the killing of the cats III the Treasury De-
partment one waichman in the Pension
Office was heard to remark to another that
lit was a pity some OF the cats could not
be turned loose in the Pension building"
This was said to Thomas W. Malone. Ma
lone, with very nonchalant air, said
that he "didn't know that 1t was
II can rid the office OF tliem," said the
mighty Malone.
MALONE TO OEXTERMINATE THEM.
This welcome news was heralded far and
wide. IT, was carried 10 the Commissioner.
Great was the name of Malone. His prowess
was the aIlabsorbinS topic OF conversa-
ton.
Malone was greeted on every side as the
hero OF the hour. He was sent for and
told to 20 ahead, make war on the enemy
and show no quarter. Now, Malone is an
old soldier, aud he knew what that meant.
He went home and called unto himself
his three faithful dogs-Peekaboo, Shag
aud Sam. He told them Of his new work,
and they, fully understanding every time
the word rat" was mentioned. howled and
barked their promise TO assist him. Malone
then led his pets to the battlefield.
All that day they were kept penned up in
box under the broad brick stairs, and
little did the clerks who went up them
suspect that their dclivcrers were AT hand.
As soon as o'clock came Malone re-
leased his dogs. With a yelp Of delight
they started Off iE search nf their prey.
II did not take them long to find the enemy.
Drawn out by the vdOr OF east away lunches
which the clerks had left, the rats We're in
full force.
Pcekaboo was the first to strike the ad-
vance guard. She, by clever flank move
meut, attacked the leader. Now, the leader
was something Of fighter himself.
Peekabou and the rat had it over and
around waste baskets, under desks, and
all around the room. The rat started
under desk and got stuck. Peekaboo
saw her advantage and never hesitated.
She got the rat, and with q few deXteruus
shakes the rat was dead.
The struggle was too much for PeekabOO,
SO she hunted up Malone. and with II
came. ! saw, / conquered air took Malone
up to the dead rat. He was surprised at its
size. and took it out and weighed il. The
weight OF the TN is noted as 2 pounds 3
ounces. and government scales are always
correct.
The slaughter confined for some days,
and this is the record so far: Pcekaboo,
] 9S: Shag, 2O2: Sam, 314: total, ia rats,
and the dogs only seem to be warming up
to the strife.
Many OF the rodents killed weighed over
a pound. This is considered pretty good,
even for Pension Office rats,
What the total number of dead rats will
be when Malone and Pcekaboo and Sam
and Shag get through is hard to say.
Mr.. Malone and his dogs have not as yet
been rendered the thanks of the office. but
a movement Ia this effect has already
been started. The watchword of Malone
now is, n long way after Gen. Stark of
fame. 1.-The rats are mine
OF lose three dogs"
o