The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-22
GEORGE, Who IS
DEATH ON RATS,
EXPLAINS PLAN
Piece of Sponge, Soaked in Meat
Grease, Brings Quick De-
mise, Via Indigestion
NO WISE RODENT WILL
SNIFF POWDERS, HE SAYS
Even Time-Honored Smuggling
Method Proves Unsatisfactory
Hopes For State Bounty

A bill has been introduced in the
Michigan legislature, fixing bounty
or 10 cents per head on rats.
Johnnie with his air gun or sling
shot, and the man who has secret
ways OF bringing death to pestiferous
creatures, are anxiously awaiting an
|nouncement that the measure has
been enacted into law. for rats are not
scarce, and in many places l0-cent
pieces are.
Hear then. the story OF one OF De
troit's most learned and successful rat
killers:
George IN not only rough, but death
on rats. He is q sort OF black death
being descended of the people whom
Abraham Lincoln made free.
In years gone by, George has work
ed as janitor In places innumerable
In his "janitoring around" he has
had much to do with the rat problem
Fact Is, George admits he has lain
awake nights, urging his mind to pro
duce new and modern ideas in rat
staying.
He also sought advice. and got
loads Of II at the market price-noth,
ing New schemes for inducing the
rat to shuttle on were impaired to
him. He tried them. He used a pow
erful powder Men had told him that
a rat would roll over. lie down, and
dry up, 10 minutes after sniffing this
compound. George has characterized
these men as twfsters OF the truth.
He says no rat with brains will have
anything to do with powders.
Almost every kind of a steel or
wire trap ever turned out was given
trial by George. These traps, he
has found. do a great deal OF good,
but in cases where the rats have In.
creased and multiplied so rapidly that
they are ready TO incorporate as
cities Of the first class. traps are I'M
able to cope with the problem OF ex-
So, more than one year ago, George
threw away the last trap, and sank
into prolonged periods of mental con-
centration. He plunged into one of
these periods, and when he came out.
his black eyes sparkled with the light
OF a new triumph.
by golly,"' he said, II got 1t. I'll
scare 'em to death. Why-why-Pll
Just natcherally horrify 'em all to
death"
Not long after that. a young rat
which didn't know much of the ways
OF the world. was captured alive. by
George. It came tearing back to its
colony, screeching with pain, and
that It had been pretty
badly handled. The other rats listen
ed, shifted once or twice, and then
turned around and fed in disgust,
never to return to the old home
stead again!
George had scorched the hair Of
the captive rat The sight OF the bald
one had accomplished its purpose
among others Of the rodent colony.
Nothing was heard Of them for days.
Then there came q scratching and a
squeaking.
Georges proud smile wilted into q
frown. He renewed Investigation, and
handed down the sad conclusion that
only the immediate relatives or a
scorched rat leave for good. The 9TH
ers returned to their native haunts.
after the bald rat grows another crop
OF hair.
And George went back to his pom
dering.
He has the matter solved now, and
is often called upon to clean out some
OF the larger rat colonies In the city.
Ask him some day, what kills rats
most quickly.
Indigestion" IL the answer. "Give
'em indigestion. Beats p'ison, traps.
horrifyin' and everything else. know.
Jes' the other day. / cleaned out q
store on Broadway where they started
them fancy affairs that looks like
marble. Only the rats, holding dress
parade In the morning, and putin on
parties at night. gave It the tiny sound.
and made the place look cheap, with
their pattering around
$50, anyway. they called me In FOR
consultation. and I agree to clean out
the place. have done It by indiges.
ton"
Further prompting-and may be a
cigar or a drink-will induce the
black death on rats to state that q
piece Of sponge, soaked with meat
grease, Is the only sure killer OF
rodents. The grease is digested. but
the sponge provokes an attack Of
acute stomach trouble--so acute, in
fact, that there Is no hope for a rat
afflicted in this manner.