Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-03
THE RAT TT
WASTHAT DIED
TUMULT IN THE PARLOR WHEN
RODENT APPEARED
Fun Waxed Furious in the Womens
Reception Room at HolIenbeck
When Little Girl Espied
the Animal

A lone rat in search of new adventure
caused much excitement in the wo-
mans reception room of the Hollenbeck
hotel yesterday afternoon for fifteen
minutes.
In some ineXplainable manner the
rodent had managed to crawl up on the
ledge of the Wainscoating surrounding
the reception room and from the sew
eral points of vantge was peering
curiously down upon the group of neat
ly attired women collected there sus-
piciously shifting the sachet-scented
atmosphere.
For five minutes the bewhiskered ami
NAL crawled about the little shelf seen
only by a little girl who later spread
the alarm of there's rat" to the pro-
nounced discomfort and fear of the
timid ladies.
On the first cry of warning from the
tot the women rose in unison as though
they had been well trained for such oc-
casions and gathered together in hor
ror stricken group in the center of the
room while one of the more lusty-
voiced cried for assistance.
The mufflel scream failed to frighten
the inquisitive rat. The latter con-
tinued to roam about on the shelf. COM
ing closer and closer to the edge and
gazing in innocent wonder at the fright
Enter Manager
Following the second cry of alarm
Manager John S. Mitchell appeared on
the scene and prepared to battle with
q mighty monster.
Mr.. Mitchell cast his eyes about the
shelf hurriedly When the eyes of the
innocent offender and the champion of
the cause met the rat at once knew
that pyrotechnics were in order and
that it was to be fight to the death.
Like a hunting dog watches bird
fitting from bough to bough Mr.. Nit
chell followed the movements of the rat.
Several attempts were made by Mr..
Mitchell to corner the animal. But each
one proved a dismal failure. The engi
neer was informed of the impending
disaster and ordered upon the scene
armed with anything he could lay his
hands on the quickest
Anxious to share the glories and
spoils of the battle which were destined
to take place in the very immediate
future. the engineer rushed into the
reception room armed with an ugly
looking sledge hammer. The engineer
was closely followed by bellboy with
a long step ladder.
Ring Around Rosey
Around the little room went the en-
R1neer WIN lne HdInlleI, thC DSilpoy
with the stepladder and Hr. Mitchell,
the latter commanding the movements
of his lieutenants All business at the
desk was forgotten i'm the moment of
the excitement. Guests came crowd
ing down from their rooms to watch
the deadly affray. Bellboys appeared
on the scene one after another ana
sold standing room at fabulous prices.
The excitement of bull hght was
m surface
Around the room went the enemy
and it's three pursuers. The lone rat
was fairly galloping and the counten-
ance of the engineer took the appear
ance of leopard as he mopped the
perspiration of honest toll from his
brow.
Suddenly things came to halt. The
rodent found a corner. 1t stopped for
n brief moment to size UP the situation
and make for the nearest avenue OF
escape.
The Hammer Falls
But the mighty commander of the
forces foresaw the intentions of the
crafty little animal Before it had
taken one breath the three-pound
hammer descended upon 1T in rapid 1lre
succession.
rodent had been quenched. LifelesS 1t
Law upon the shelf, the last quivers of
a once happy life faded fast into
eternal darkness.
With a martial tread Mr.. Mitchell
stepped down from the ladder. The
smile of a conquering hero was upon
his features. From the throng came a
cheer of triumph and in moment he
was lost in the surging crowd.
Alone in the reception room the en-
eineer and the bellboy removed the re-
mains of the defeated foe. Down into
the fiery furnace they carried it. AT
o'clock the furnace door was opened.
only a little dark spot upon piece of
wood told the tale.