A TELEGRAPH WIRE LAID BY A RAT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2293, 5 January 1900, Page 6

A TELEGRAPH WIRE LAID BY A RAT.

As most people know, remarks a writer in the " Cornhill," the main telegraph wires in London run through the subways in which the gaspipes and sewers are placed. The principal arteries are so large that it is easy enough for men to work in them, but the pipes through which the side-wires branch off are much smaller, and great care has to be taken to preserve the connection between the main and the lateral wires. Some years ago men were repairing one of these latter, and carelessly omitted to attach in to a leading line by which it could be drawn to its place when mended. The blunder seemed likely to have serious consequences, for it was thought that the whole of the lateral pipe would have to be dug up in order to get at the broken wire. Bat one of the men came to the rescue with a happy thought, suggesting that a rat should be procured, and,with a line piece of wire attached to it, sent through the pipe. This was done; but, to the dismay of the workmen, the new hand came to a stop after it had gone a few yards. The inventor of this idea was not yet, however, at the end of his resources, and by his advice a ferret was procured and started on the dilatory rat s track. There was a moment of suspense before it was settled whether the rat would show tight or run away, but this was soon ended by the paying out of the wire, and in the short time the latest edition to the staff of the postoffice appeared at the other end of the pipe. It was caught, the wire detached, and then it was sent free in recognition of the service it had rendered. By means of the wire the telegraph line was secured, and a long and laborious piece of work saved.