Year: 1876

Mississippi.


1t was ia the summer of $50 on board
the steamer Chester Ashley, that we were
laid up on account of low water on the
Arkansas River. The boat had become
so overrun with rats that we were in dan
ger of having the whole freight list to
pay for. Our cargo consisted almost en-
tirely of bacon and -four, and they had
perforated this in every direction. As a
last experiment to get rid of them, we
had the entire load carried ashore, and
then commenced grand rat hunt. The
animals all took the hold, and among the
innumerable salt boxes and under the
dunnage found shelter, 80 that but few
could be dislodged and killed. 1t was in
this emergency that the genius of the
chief engineer shone forth with dazzling
brilliancy.


"Let's," said he, turn s cam into the
hold and run 'em out"


This was agreed upon. While he was
raising steam in the nigger boiler, the
rest of us went around stopping up all
places of egress, and stopped them all ex-
cept one hole which came through the
deck few feet from the chest. This ice





rodents, for in it was kept the delicacies
of the table. Pies, fruit and choice cakes
were always there. ! suppose the rats
looked upon this place as sort of free
Saratoga. At all events, they would put
in few hours of every night there, and
this might represent their seasons.


The ice chest was about eight feet
square, with the opening on top-that is
our opening; the rats had theirs through
the back, close down to the deck. This
we also left open, and this arrangement
left the rats only one hiding place on the
main deck.


Steam being now ready, and cock
opened to admit it into the hold, l
took my station where l could see the
"varmints as they defled from their
untenable cover to one they thought more
prOmising-and it was a study for saw
mill man. As the steam filled the hold,
they commenced their line of march
first came a venerable looking old chap,
one on whose head the frosts of many
winters had settled. He passed along
with measured gait, slowly moving his
head from side to side, as though he said,
"Boys, I'm afraid you've got us this
time" and he seemed to be astonished
that no missiles were hurled after him,
but was allowed to enter the ice chest
unharmed. During his march another
not sister-kept his head out of the
deck hole and watched his prog ress, and
when he saw him safely housed, out he
came, and made the march unmolested.
This seemed all they waited for; they
then poured Outin one unbroken stream,
and they were all there


The wife whose babe first smiled that day


The fair, fond bride Of yester eve;


The aged sire the matron gray,


and all the young bucks Just kept COM
ing until / thought they had some way of
getting from the ice chest to the hole
again and were keeping up an unbroken
circle. But at length there happened
breaks in the procession, then these
breaks became more frequent and of
greater duration, and after while they
came in single individuals and in more
of hurry, for the hold was getting hot,
and later they came slower and had less
hair on them, and the last one looked
sick, didn't seem to care whether he got
anywhere or not, and as he passed me he
cast look of holy scorn and holy sad
ness, as if to say, You fellows think
you're smart you ought to be ashamed"
and to tell the truth, I was. l felt the
same impulse to save his life that ac-
tuated POcohontas on an historical oc-
casion, and from an association of ideas
named this rat John Smith.


And now they were all in the chest and
the hole plugged. We called council of
war as to the best way to finish them. The
engineer wanted to carry out his designs
and turn the steam on them and cook
them alive; but the "old man wanted
some fun" he had couple of
imported Scotch terriers, full blood and
long hair, and here was just such chance
to try their mettle as he long had
yearned for. So he raised the lid on top,
dropped them in and closed the door with
the remark, "Go for 'em, boys" Then he
took out his watch.


They must have went "for 'em," for
the sounds that followed were mixture
of yelps, howls and tiny squeaks, mingled
with rattling, surging sound, as though
the life within was combined and trying
TO knock out first one end of the chest
and then the other. The cold man"
would sing out at intervals: eco for
'em, boysI' then he would wink at us,
shut one eye, double himself up, and
raise his right leg as though he was in an
ecstasy of enjoyment.


At length all inside became quiet, and
he looked at his watch again. "Six-
teen and half minutes" said he. "Now,
men, let us turn the chest over and
count the rats, for l think them pups
have knocked the spots out of former
records"


We turned it over, the lid few open.
and whole floor of rats came pouring
out like bees from an upturned hive.


We had to clear the track until they
all escaped, aud when we looked in the
box those dogs were in more pieces than
ever dogs, not made into sausage, were
before. They looked as though they had
been dead month, and only one solitary
rat kept them cOmpany- and it WAS John