The San Francisco call., 1897-11-23
Lawyers, City officials and
Saloon Men at the
Pit Side.
TERRIERS YELPED FOR MORE.
The st. Lawrence Stable on Post
Street the Scene of the
Killing.

Twenty sports of high degree attended
as merry a little rat killing as ever came
off in this city last evening.
There were lawyers and doctors and
saloo nmen and public officials and at the
end of an hour OF port one hundred and
fifty dead rodents were piled up outside
the pit and a dozen clean limbed little fox
terriers were dancing about yelping for
more.
The batting took place in the cellar of
the st. Lawrence stable at 423 Post street
and was strictly a select affair, only those
having invitations and knowing the ropes
being permitted to assemble at the pit
side. Long before 9 o'clock, the hour ap-
pointed for the sport 10 begin, the sports
began to assem- bic and they did not come
in body and marchinto the stable to the
tune OF brass band, because it happens
to be an infraction of a city ordinance TO
bait rats, and any guardian OF the peace
seeing such an aggregation might have
been smitten with curiosity and taken
pal rs to ascertain the why and wherefore.
Tney came singly and in pairs and
stood about on corners and in doorways,
looking this way and that to be sure that
the police were absent, and as they
thought the coast was clear, boted in to
the sta ole. To a casual observer the por-
tails were closed and q solid-lookIng iron
fence barred the way, but it was decep-
tive, for a slight push produced an aper-
ture through which a man could easily
pass, and pas they dids as they saw their
opportunity.
1t was funny to see the various tactics
the sports adopted TO escape observation.
Charley Newman of the Richeiieu stood
at no nf nd ~
friends as they passed and telling each
that he wished his car would hurry.
When everything looked right he marched
boldly in the stable as though to order out
his trotter.
J. B. Martin. the dignified clerk of
Judge Coffey's court, who owns the best
known kennel OF foX-terriers in the city,
and who acted as master of ceremonies
strobe up and down the block seven times,
by actual count, be lore he essayed an en-
trance, looking neither to the right nor
left, and seemingly quickening his steps as
tie pas-e ed he yawnlng portals.
Tom Mulvev, whose saloon in the Mis-
sion is weli-known resort for dog men,
took different tack. He stood on the
corner OF Post and Mason until he saw the
block clear and then walked quietly down
with his pet rodent-destroyer under his
arm.
When just opposite the door and
seemingly ABOUT 10 pass II ne turn ed at
right angles with sold ier-like precision
and went through the gate as though shot
out OF a catapult. And so with the others
until all the invited ones were inside.
But there were others. The tip had evil
deutly reached half a dozen who we're not
hidden to enter, and they were as amusing
as the more fortunate sports. a tall COL
ored man, who in his light rain coat and
natty umbrella might have passed as the
Beau Brummel of Darktown, went boldly
up and tried the gates. Not having the
com bination he failed, and repaired to a
a neigh boring saloon to think. When an
idea caught him he came back and
knocked boldly. OF course there was no
answer, for knocks, no matter how deity
administered, were not on The programme,
and he finally left IN disgust.
Another old sport, clad in light over
coat and smoking a corncob pipe, tried
every door but the right one and then
marched up and down in the rain until
the snow was over and heard the results
from those who had witnessed the excit-
ing encounters between rodents and dogs.
a large amount of money changed
hands on the results of the various bouts
but no remarkable records were made.
Several matches were arranged to take
place at tho next meeting.
Another batting has been arranged for
the near future, but it will probably be
held in a more remote locality than the
st. Lawrence stables.