The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
TWO TALES OF THE TOWN
AN UNUSUAL BATTLE THAT TOOK
PLACE IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Work of a Ferret mt an Engine House
Midnight Raid Upon Private
Coal Bins i'm This City.

This Is the story of very unusual battle
that took place in Indianapolis one morn
ing last week, and its authenticity is
vouched for by two members of the Indian
apolis fire department Adjoining the rear
part of an engine house on the west side
of town is a large private stable. which is
presided over by a young colored man,
whose duty 1t is to look after the two
horses that are housed in the building. Of
late the private barn has been overrun
with rats, and the stable man has been
waging a fierce war against the destructive
animals. Finding, however, that, despite
the numerous catches in his rat-traps,
the "pesky creatures" did not seem to de-
crease in numbers to any appreciate ex-
tent, he secured a pet ferret from a dray-
man employed in one of the big wholesale
groceries on South Meridian street He
had never seen ferret before, and, after
observing its actions for a while, found it
hard TO believe that an ANIMAL of such slow
locomotive power should possess a famous
reputation a rat-hunter. Being of an
experimental turn of mind, the stable man
decided not to turn the ferret loose TO hunt
the rats in his own way, but to arrange a
special set-to between the ferret and the
largest rat that could be captured alive in
a trap.
Two of the fremen next door became in
terested in the match" and all three of
the men began giving their attention to OBJ
tanning suitable opponent for the ferret
Last Monday morning they found that a
rodent of unsuaul strength and size had be-
come imprisoned in one of the traps dur
,,,rx H.. s-l,t I'D
promptly made for. the battle The two
animals were turned loose in an upstairs
room of the barn, where there was no fur
niture. The door was closed, and the three
men stood out in a hallway, looking
through a glass window at the gladiators.
AS soon as the rat found himself lib
Grated, he began running round the room
as if searching for an exit. Not finding any
means of escape, he uttered a piercing
Shrek, and with prompt decision took up
his position directly under the light which
streamed in through the window, thus gam
ing over his advensary-to use the Ian
guage of other duelists-the advantage of
the sun, The ferret erected his head
shifted about, and began fearlessIy to push
his way toward the spot where the scent
of his game was strongest, facing the light
in full 'front.' and preparing himself TO
seize upon his prey. No sooner. however
had he approached within two feet of his
watchful foe than the rat, with another
loud cry, rushed at him with violence and
inflicted severe wound on his head and
neck, which was soon shown by the blood
that flowed from il. The ferret seemed as
tonished at the attack. and retreated with
evident discontinue, while the rat instead
OF following up the advantage he had
gained instantly withdrew TO his former
station under the window.
The ferret soon recovered from the shock
he had sustained and charged once more.
The second attack resulted exactly in the
same way as the first. with the exception
that. on the rush of the rat to the conflict.
the ferret appeared more collected and be-
gan showing an inclination to get firm
hold on his enemy The rats strength
however was very great, and he again sue
ceeded in net only avoiding the deadly
embrace of the ferret but also in inflicting
a second wound on his head and neck The
rat a second time returned TO his retreat
under the window and the ferret seemed
less anxious to renew the combat. These
attacks were resumed at intervals for near