THE CHARLEVOIX COUNTY HERALD — MAY 22, 1909
Rodents Fill Up on Deadly Explosive, Then Hasten to Jersey Capital
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
