The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-01-06
: James, j. Gallagher!

a subject for nockery. Despite his
unpopularity Gallagher viewed his So:
cials ostracism as a. Joke and through
utter peryerseness would demonstrate
his strange power over animals.
For this trait he was feared when
heSworked in the appraisers stores as
an opener and packer inJ1S93. Gal,
lagher was, appointed In that year and
often boasted that political pull had
led to his selection from the third
grade list Of the custom house.. &, !.
The old stores building was over.
run. with rats and they. were the one
abominatlon Of the men uncratlng and
wrapping the stores. They possessed
no terrors for Gallagher. However, He;
delighted in their coming. He often
demonstrated his peculiar command Of,
his voice to his fellow laborers and
seemed to get any call he desired from
the throat region.
One day the tide drove many Of the
dock rats among the barrels and boxes
In the stores office. They ran for shell.
ter to the heaps Of wool in the section
where Gallagher was working, and In
fright the packers deserted the ROOM.
The stocky Gallagher laughed at their
alarm and pursued the rats into the
wool piles, They: were about to attack
him when weird call issued from his
throat. VI
His fellow workers looking in upon
him saw the rats gather about him
with squeals of affection that sounded
similar 10 the noise that Gallagher
made. They crept upon HIN from all
sides: He stroked the rodents as he.
continued the chuckie and they
climbed all over him. Many Of. tho
rats, fattened on. the refuse that had
been thrown from the stores, were al
most the size Of cats and aggressive
" fierce, / 81 & <. n J Is e,
Gallagher gave no heed to their size
or appearance. He coddled them and
let them nestle In his arms. They.
ran about his neck and down the back
Of his coat He; tweaked their long
tails. but they did not bite him. and
he performed other minor cruelties
that would ordinarily have provoked
the rodents to sink theif. teeth In him.
but they made no move to hurt the
laborer. Their tails swfshed across
his face but he only laughed between
his intermittent calls = Y 49, n 4
He finally put the rats away from
him, but to horrlfy the other men he
called them back every noon hour
with the same throaty cry. They
came through cracks in the floor and
from holes In the wall. His summons
was Irresistible To shock his fellows
almost to nausea he permitted the
rats to nibble the food heheld between
his Ups. The men appealed 10 him to
stop, but he laughed at them.
THEY are lovable animals, y" he
often told his companions. 1.-THE rat
Is much misunderstood. You must
greet him With his own love call and
he will never harm you
!. 5L,n occhslonssW nen other men IN the
rooms we're bitten by the rats, result
ing ultimately IN blood poisoning, he
laughed In apparent delight, and, to
SHOW his own control of the. rodents,
gathered them about him in scores.
"".rhe Pied Piper Of Hameln was q
man OF my own type" boosted Gall
Ilagher. He could make the rats come /
from their hiding plnces. but j am 81.
perlor to him. He used a flute; j, have
nothing but my throat to win them.
When the situation finally became
.nnbeaarble recourse was had to tho Of.
;hcials, and in 1887 Gallagher was driv.
en;from his position. He had been
guilty Of another oitense. but the or,.
portunity to leave the appraisers.
stores honorably was given to him.