The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-20
THE RAT CATCHER.
Money Making Scheme of a Shrewd
Yankee.

Poor pussy's days of usefulness are
about over if the novel occupation orig
mated by Harry Jennings continues to
thrive in the future as it has in the
past. Jennings business is lat catch
er for the good people of Manhattan
Borough. He is a shrewd Yankee, and
claims to be the only and original exter-
nlinator Of rodents now actively en-
gagged in the profession. That the bust
ness is a lucrative one is amply borne
out by the large establishment conducted
by the firm on Fourth avenue.
Jennings is modest person, and
when 1 saw him at his place of business
| he was somewhat backward about tell
Ing the story of hts many conquests
and fierce engagements with the rats
and mice of New York. When once
started on the narrative, however, he
grew quite enthusiastic over the posi-
bilities of his unique vocation. and in
timated that the thrilling adventures
of Dick Wilmington and his cat, as
related in story and song, make mighty
poor reading compared with some OF
the experiences he meets with almost
every day in the week.
To corroborate his statement Mr..
Jennings invited me to accompany one
of his assistants on his daily round of
inspection When we started out the
assistant ratcatcher armed himself
with a mysterious looking valise, which
he informed me contained the bait for
the rat traps. We. visited a dozen or
so large warehouses and other estah-
lishments in the lower part of the city.
In some buildings a great many traps
To re cd
out. It may not be generally known,
but rats and mice are rather particular
regarding their place of abode, and
some establishments are not bothered
at all by the pests They are especially
fond of paclxing-houses where large
quantities of fresh meat are kept.
These and the large hotels and restau-
rants are kept busy fighting the rats.
If they did not keep UP a continual
warfare the rodents would not only
prove annoying. but very expensive as
we'll
1t is not SO much what the rats eat
although their appetites for such little
animals are by no means small, but
they destroy and carry away many
times the amount they consume. Rats
and mice are hardened robbers and will
carry anything away that is not nailed
down or too large for them to move.
This thieving trait has proved par
tioularly expensive to hotels and cafes,
and has caused good many misunder-
standings between guests and land
lords. Outside of savory bits of food,
small, bright objects seem to arouse a
rats cupidity more than anything. For
this reason articles of iewelry, valu-
able watches and diamond rings have
nlysteriously disappeared from guests
rooms in hotels and have never been
recovered, the bright-eyed cuIprits leav-
iIg no clew behind
Rats are a good deal like crows in
this popularity of carrying off innu-
merable articles for which they have
no earthly use. and which, it seems.
would cause them actual discomfort
They have repeatedly been the cause
Of getting innocent people into trouble,
and in some cases very serious trouble.
They have caused good friends to be-
come bitter enemies, to look upon each
other as veritable sneak thieves. all un-
unconscious of the sly little rats which
have caused all the trouble
gentleman who is the head of n
large firm in South street some time
ago missed pocketbook that contain
ca some very valuable papers. The
book had been placed in his desk. which
always was securely locked at night.
Sonle of the employees We're suspected:
but their regulations We're saved when
the office floor was taken up to make
some repairs. There the book and pa
pers lay in fragments forming a cosy
nest in which nestled a number sof
young rats.
A commission merchant had several
sacks of peanuts stored on the ground