The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-17
FIGHTS A HUGE BoURsE BAT.
Held Telephone Booth and Only
killed After Terrific Onslaught.
philadelphia Telegram.)

EHiAducipnld ISiegram.t
A huge bat invaded the Bourse today.
TOOK possession OF a telephone booth
and for an hour defied every effort to
dislodge it 1t was finally driven out
bv a combined attack of the force OF at
PENDANTS. knocked down and killed.
The main floor OF the big building has
been the scene or many exciting events
grain battles OF the roker and dog
and ven rat hunts. but the death Of
the bat eclipse them all.
Il was his morning at the busiest
hour when the bat was discovered in
the phone booth at the southwestern
end of the Bourse. A gentleman who
had occasion TO make a long distance
call made the discovery. He no sooner
opened the booth door and ooh down
the receiver han the bat flew across
his face. He dropped the receiver and
dashed from the booth with terror de-
picted upon his face. Then he gave the
alarm.
something huge he said, attacked
ue in the booth" He was right; il
was something huge. as things devel-
oped, for the bat proved to be the
largest that those who afterwards
viewed IL had ever seen. Gate-keeper
BullSE Is d4 olulSu HAL, Dul Ic Ids
rever been known 10 shrink when duty
called. He has had experience with
very many queer things In this case
he responded TO duty's call with alacrity
In his hurry. however. he failed to
arm himself with some weapon. When
he approached the booth the bat flew
out and viciously attacked him. He
teat a hasty retreat. only to return a
little later with an empty cigar box,
the only weapon available.
He might as well have had a feather.
But Gatekeeper Butler boldly advanced
to the attack.
He again penetrated the booth, only
to be beaten ack by the bats vigorous
onslaught.
Then he sounded a general alarm,
and soon every attendant upon- the
hoor came on the run to his assistance.
Even the ticker boys responded. The
weapons of these were as motley as the
attackers. The ticker boys had snatch
ed up pen-holders and ever blotters,
but had somehow secured the handle
of a broom.
Then the army Of the bats foes ad-
yanced in battle array. In the mean
time the excitement spread. Business
was almost suspended. The crowd was
even Swelled by a corterie of
BILE mariners, all to be in at the
| death Of the bat. They were, too. 1t
was Gatekeeper Butler who was destin-
ed to be the eXecutioner. He got hold
of the room handle and fearlesSly un-
dertook the dislodgment Of the bat,
which still held the booth.
But Gatekeeper Buffers blood was
up. He was determined TO show the
onlookers that he was not to be discom-
flied. He located the bat in a corner
of the booth and at one poked at it
! with the broom handle while the crowd
I looked GREATNESS and admiringly on.
| A succession Of pokes brought n b't
out Of it's corner. But even then l.
proved an elusive thing.
1t did not fail, but took refuge in an
other corner. More pokes and the bat
was again d~islodged. But only dislodg-
ed, for it at once perched itself upo
the telephone. There it appeared to leer
at it's tormentor. The more it was
poked the more defiant it became.
Meanwhile Gate-keeper Butler was en-
couraged by the yells of the onlookers
Finally Gate-keeper Butler, with q
| tremendous lunge of the broom handle,
struck the bat fairly amidships and
knocked the breath clear out of it. This
finished the battle of bat and man. a
few blows of the weapon and the bat
was dead. Then the valiant gate
keeper was congratulated by his ad-
mirers. The crowd dispersed, the re-
ceiver was hung up, and soon business
went on as before.