Trenton, N. J.—Trenton has only just recovered from an awful fright, due to the visitation of the imaginary Jersey “devil bird,” when a new scare is caused by a plague of explosive rats which has been infesting the Meren county workhouse, a few miles from this city.
    The workhouse warden discovered that a sack of dynamite, used for quarry purposes, had been broken open and most of its contents carried away. A thorough investigation showed that none of the officials at the Institution had removed the explosive, and the Mercer County Board of Freeholders began to fear that Black Handers plotted to blow up the buildings.
    A loud explosion occurred within a few feet of the administration building early the other day, and the noise brought the terror-stricken officials to the scene. One of the guards, believing that an attempt was being made to blow up the buildings, wanted to release the prisoners in order to give them a chance for their lives, but cooler counsel prevailed.
    The only thing that could be found about the premises which indicated the cause of the explosion was the badly mutilated body of a rat, and it dawned on the officials that rodents might have eaten the dynamite. The body of the dead rat was examined and some unexploded dynamite was found in the stomach. The discovery created terror, for it was known that the simultaneous explosion of a dozen rats charged with dynamite would destroy all the workhouse buildings and kill the inmates.
    Guns were fired off, powder was burned and other ways to force the rats to vacate their strongholds were resorted to, and met with much success. Thousands were seen running in the direction of this city, and while the workhouse people sighed with great relief this city is now terror-stricken.
    It is realized that it would be impossible to drive all the rats out of a city of 100,000 inhabitants without risk of something happening that might cause several of the loaded rodents to explode.
    Housewives have unbaited and locked up the rat traps and cats and dogs are being kept under restraint.
    It is feared that the rats that left the workhouse and came to Trenton will probably remain together, so that if one should explode the others would follow suit. Extra firemen and policemen have been put on duty, but just what part they are to play to avert a catastrophe will have to be determined by developments. Steps will likely be taken to prevent a rat disaster.

From—Charlevoix County Herald. (East Jordan, Mich.), 22 May 1909. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.