The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-12
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A RAT WALKS A HIGH CABLE.
Crosses a Chicago Street Every Night
to Get His Lunch.

From the Chicago Times Herald.
At precisely 20 o'clock every night in the
year, rain. snow or fair weather, a per-
Torrance is given in Washington street
between La Sale street and Fifth avenue,
on wire stretched high above the street
car tracks. Night after night the daring
performer can be seen balancing himself
on the little cable, now apparently losing
his balance and only saving himself by a
sudden and desperate twist now trottjng
merrily along as he had not care in the
world. On a clear evening, when the in
treptd performer can be plainly seen. he
always attracts many spectators.
The performer is a huge rat wise and
gray with age, and the head of an inter
esting family, several members of which
sometimes accompany him on his daring
trip across the cable. These trips are not
taken for the fun of the thing, but for the
purpose of obtaining fun meal without
the trouble of working for it. Every night
at 10 O'Clock lunch is served in the news
paper office into which the south end of
the cable runs, and it is to participate in
this lunch that the rat has learned to cross
and recross on the wire.
The rat made his first trip across the
slender bridge about a year ago Some of
the printers saw him start on his voyage,
and considerable money was at once wag-
trip in safety. The men who bet against
Mr.. Rat were not wise, for in less than
two minutes, after several narrow eseapes
from falling into the street below, he had
crossed the cable in safety and was pick
ing up the crumbs under the lunch table
No one had the heart to disturb him after
the chances he had run. and so it came to
pass that the rat Toasted royalty on the
best there was in the house.
For once the printers overcame their an
tipathy for rats" and owing to the kind
ness with which this particular one was
treated he soon became almost as tame as
a kitten. Bolder and holder he became,
and now ii is no uncommon thing to see
him prance along the wire carrying in his
mouth a nicely buttered slice of bread or.
perchance, the wing of chicken, handed
out to him by one of the typogra phical ar
lists. Once in a while, especially in rainy
weather Mr.. Rat makes a misstep on the
wire, and then there is fun for moment.
He twists and turns like lightning, and,
punctuating his movements by a few
sharp squeals, soon lands safely on the
opposite side of the street, still retaining
the piece of food he started with
One evening not long ago the printers
were surprised to see their old friend an
pear upon the wire and start for the office.
closely followed by four other rats. evil
IDENTIFY his wife and three children. The
patriarch walked ahead slowly and care
fully, as IL to show the others the proper
method of overcoming the swaying of the
cable as 1t was struck by the wind. On
the little party came until almost the CEN
ter of the street was reached. Then there
was sudden diversion, for Sub" prin
ter who had recently come to town and
knew nothing of the friendship existing
between the regulars" and the rat. had
thrown piece of bread at the approach
ing animals
The missile sailed through the air close
to the heads of the rodents. and the four
newcomers lost their wits for a moment
apparently. With sharp squeaIs of dis
may they turned upon the cable until r.
seemed as If they must fall. They wran-
PED their tails around the wire and with
their Iaws tried to drag themselves hacIr
again To an upright position. Here was
where the husband and father displayed
great Judgment and heroism. Carefully
ne ret1aced his steps along the wire until
he stood directly over the strupglino
members Of his family, who were IN inn
mnent danger of falling into the street
neIoW'' FOR an instant he paused hs If
IN doubt. Then he crouched unon HE
stomach, put out his front paws and mil.
ed the animals back upon the wire one
after the other.
The printers had watched the PROCEEDINGS
IN GREATNESS silence, but as the five "rate,,
resumed their journey toward the news
paper office they were cheerd in a man
per that would have made the foremost
pohuclan IN the land bow with gratitude
On the arrival of the animals in tbe nrint.
ing office, they found a hearty meal await
ing them, for the boys felt that such cour-
age as they had displayed should be wen
rewarded. Each animal returned 70 tt
nome across the street, carrying in lie
mouth substantial supper. just a s If n
had not mad all 1t could eat before leaving
me rather rat, instead of disappearing
on reaching the building on the north sIde
OF the street, turned round and danced
OUT upon the cable, where he gave a per-
formance, apparentlA for the beneAt 90
me printers that was wonderful. ali
things considered. He did eli but stand
on his head and when he had finisbed
so some of the printers declare-arose on
his mind legs and bowed in the most nolita
manner Imaginable. Returning to the hos