The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-03
RAISED HER SKIRTS ron the RAE.
The nat Frouptiy Rnn Up HoT Stocking and
Miss schsiieF Screamed and Eainted.


A big black rat wandered out OF an u%noccupiod
house on South street, near webster avenue,
Jersey City. Mt about 8 o'clock Tuesday night.
1t strolled slowly down toward tho corner, and
then perched on tho edge Of the gutter to enjoy
the cool breeze that sweeps across tho heights
nightly.
On the front stoop Of q house across the road
sat q cat. He was black, too; also large. About
twenty feet awny from the rat stood two girls.
They wcro Margaret Schellor. IL years old. OF
359 New York avenue, and her intimate friend,
Kate Dixon, ls years old, Of Sherman avenue
and Congress street. Tho girls didn't set the
rat, and the rat didn't see tho cat, which was
unfortunate for everybody but the cat. The lat
ter. with the strategy for which Jersey City cats
are noted. did not spoil his game by rushing
hastily at the rat Instead, no sneaked of the
stoop. crawled up the street n way on his stom.
nch, crossed over to the same side with tho rat,
and then came wandering down the block. keep
Ing well up against the fences.
Tho death Of the rat would have been sudden
if 1t had continued 10 concentrate its attention
on the breeze a few seconds longer than 1t did.
Also much trouble and excitement would have
been saved. As 1t was, however. the rat turned
Its head when tho cat was still q few feet away
observed tho approach Of the enemy. and pro-
ceeded to light out. The cat gave a yowl Of dis.
caused Misses schciler and Dixon TO turn
around. They saw the cat; also the rat.
"A rati" shriekcd Margaret.
"0w, ow. VOW cried Kate.
Save us, save usl" screamed both.
There WINS nobody to come to the rescue,
though. Tho rat was perfectly willing to go In
the other direction. but there was tho cat, and
the latter showed no intention Of giving up the
chase.
A man would think. under the circumstances.
that there was more safety In skirts than In
Dixon. They couldn't move from where they
stood. they. we're so badly frightened. but they
pulled their skirts up to their knees and just
There was no time for choosing and tho rat
didn't spend any that way. He Just landed on
Miss Scheller's calf. Miss Scheller dropped her
skirts, and tho rat was . prisoner whether he
would or not.
"Oh. he's on me. he's on moi cried Mis-,
seheller, dancing around and waving her arms
Squeeze himi' advised Miss Dixon. who had
backed of some distance from her friend.
oh, l can't l. replied Miss Scheller. But she
did just the same.
Scheller let go and screamed some more The
rat started to climb down again, but he stopped
midway. and Miss Scheller just gave . hnal
scream and fell over on tho Sidewalk in q faint
now. and she did II sc. we'll that Bicycle Police
man snifen came riding up at full speed. q
started to raise Miss Scheoler to her feet, and II
doing so raised her skirt q bit. Out ran the rat
and the cat, which had boon hanging. around
gave chase once moro. He captured the rat Z
few yards away. and q minute later 1t breathed
its last In the gutter.
Miss Scheller was taken to a nearby drut
store and restoratives were administered. Sh'
reGained consciousness alter q while and thei
went home. Miss Dixon went with her. and tn
street to it's old perch on tho stoop and licked It
lips for half an hour.