The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-02-24
HE Is A RAT DRIVER.

LUMINOUS PAINT SUCCEEDS WHERE
BELLS, TAR AND TRAPS FAILED.
A Man Who Makes Good Money Clearing
Warehouses and Other Concerns Around
New York of Troublesome Rodents-Be-
gan the Business In Stockholm.
Haibtues of Riverside drive, between
Seventy fifth and Eightieth streets, on
very sunny days have noticed middle
aged man carrying case, which ap-
pears to be about three feet long by one
foot deep and two feet wide. It is ap-
parently black leather case with an
ordinary grip handle to the upper part,
and the man, seeking some unfrequent-
ed piece Of wall, generally one of the
embrasures, places his case on the wall,
smokes his pipe and loiters around, look
ing at the ever changing river and it's
traffic. IF others come around, he moves
on, but If not he may stay there from
two to three hours in the full sun. He
is rat catcher, or rather rat driver.
He works only in large warehouses and
does not touch the smaller dwelling
houses or fats except in rare cases.
He is Scandinavian whom nothing
will warm to conversation but his ma
tive tongue. His case is wood on the
back, ends and bottom and wire on the
front and top. There are neat spring
shades which roll down over front and
top In this cage are eight or ten large
rats. If any one comes near, down go
the shades, but as long as the coast is
clear the shades are up and the rats are
running around basking in the sunlight.
If he takes you into his confidence, he
no clears cummings. Inc otner uay ne
said:
"When I was living in Stockholm,
the large granaries were full of rats,
and a reward was offered to clear them.
Many tried. Traps were set by the
hundred.
lone man built a room as large as an
ordinary parlor, cased it with tin and
fed the rats with oatmeal scented with
oil of aniseed, gradually laying trains
of this feed to the room until he had all
the rats on a string. Then he fitted an
automatic drop to the entrance, and
when his rats were feeding he Gagged
them all. several hundred. The first
man who did this went into the room
eaten himself, like that farmer out west
q few weeks ago. The second man
starved and then poisoned his. but in
week there were just as many rats as
ever. The supply was inexhaustible
from the rivers and quays. Poisoning
was no good because Of the terrific
smell, and SO I took the matter in hand.
II thought it over and finally set
trap and caught some rats. Then tied
piece of wire round their necks, to
which I slung little tinkling brass
bell, and then I let the bell ringers
loose in the building they had been
caught in. They knew the runs and
went to join their friends and relatives,
who of course ran from the bells. The
more they ran the more ran the bell
carriers, until the building was 'heo-
doc in rat language and not rat
would enter.
eff could have lured back my bell
carriers, all would have been we'll; but,
familiarity breeding contempt, tie rats
grew accustomed to them and in few
months were Lack again, and as build
ing after building had been cleared by
this trick there was not rat in the city
who did not know of the bells. Then !
tried tarring soLe rats with strong
smelling coal tar, which rats cannot
bear and will avoid if possible. and this
.answt rcd for awhile. but fire occurred,
and rat. tar coated, ran out OF the
blazing building with his fur ablaze
and, going into ;.Eother building not III
danger, set it Oh fire-wood ge's very
dry in those old buildings over there
and SO al ordinance was passed prohlo-
iting the use Of tar.
Il had made money, and l came to
this country. l did we'll for some years,
but in tho depression my capital ran
short and failed; 60 then l took TO
clearing L9siness places OF rats again
and ara doing quite we'll. The first
thing i to learn the lay of the building
whore the rats ccme from. If a Grain
elevator is rear, clear the elevator and
trap those il the other places. Rats very
seldom run around more than one build
orcept as an overflow. Then, hav-
j 49, ined that point, try the tar,
btalh son. and after that these lei
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