Norfolk Virginia: Rats Attack Again

This is the scene of the rat attack -- Here is the room where little Joey Waterman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ryland W. Waterman, was sleeping when the rats mutilated his body. In the center is Joey's crib. In the far room can be seen the bed in which his parents were sleeping, and at the right is the bed where four children, Joey's sisters and cousins, were sleeping.

This is the house -- Here is the house at 1616 Lovitt Street where the Waterman's occupy a five-room apartment on the ground floor. Three adults and six children, including Mrs. Waterman's sister and her three children, occupy the apartment.

Parents and Four Children 

Slept Near as Rat Ate Infant

June 20, 1947

"If I had heard my baby cry, I would have been at his side in an instant."  Those were the sorrowful words of Mrs. Ryland W. Waterman as she talked to the newspaper about her eleven-month-old baby Joey, who was "eaten nearly to death" by rats early Wednesday morning as he slept in his crib, scarcely fifteen feet from the bed where his parents were sleeping. 

Retelling the story wasn't easy for Mrs. Waterman, the mother of five children, for all-day yesterday she talked with hospital and health department officials, telling the tragic details over and over again. But the tired un-nerved mother was willing to tell the story one more time - for the newspaper - 'because maybe it will keep other children from being bitten by rats".

"My husband and I didn't hear a sound from Joey during the night," Mrs. Waterman said, "I was sick with a fever Tuesday and went to bed early. My husband, who works at the Welding Shipyard, worked a twelve-hour shift from 8 to 8. I guess we were both sleeping soundly."

Rats Attack Again -- Arvilla Merrick, 9, shown pointing to the hole in the floor at 1616 Lovitt Street where her sister Charlotte, 6, was bitten by a rat while asleep earlier today. Through the hole, it's believed the rat gained entry Early last Wednesday in the upstairs apartment.

O, God...Come Here Quick

A cry from her six-year-old daughter Velma, "Mama. Joey's bleeding!" and a call from her husband, "O God, Anna, come here quick!" were the first warnings Mrs. Waterman had that anything had happened to her infant son. Her husband and daughter got up about 8 A.M. Wednesday and were the first to reach the crib.

This is Joey's mother with Joey's sisters -- Here are Joey's mother and his sisters, Mrs. Ryland W. Waterman, and three-year-old Lorrqain, who was sleeping in the bed next to Joey's crib, and six-year-old Velma, who, with her father, was the first to discover the tragedy.

This is the baby -- Thirteen months old Joey Waterman pictured before suffering rat bites which threatened his life. His condition is "improving."

 Rat Attacks on 2 Babies Investigated

Welfare, Public Health, and Police Concerned;

Both Infants Better

Cases of two Brambleton babies, bitten by rats Tuesday and Wednesday, one of them eaten during the night and badly mutilated yesterday, are being acted upon by three agencies; welfare, public health, and police. The children themselves were reported slightly improved in condition at Norfolk General Hospital. Joe Waterman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ryland W. Waterman, may live and possibly may walk, although he is 'critical condition,' according to the hospital.

Rosalie Bandy, daughter of Mrs. Margeret Bandy, 213 West York Street, also was reported better after running high temperatures. The baby girl was being kept in the home of friends, 2903 Park Avenue when she was bitten Wednesday afternoon.

Cry Not HeardRosalie's cry was heard by children on the front porch, and she was rescued immediately.  The Waterman child was not heard to cry by her parents, they said. Four children sleeping in the same room - on a double bed - also did not hear any cry. Mrs.Waterman said. The children at the Park Avenue address said rats in the neighborhood 'were so big every night they come out and play baseball.' Rat control workers from the Department of Public Health yesterday started a rat trapping program at the Waterman house. Both houses are in the same neighborhood.

Mrs. Robert C. Hale, the protection supervisor at the Department of Public Welfare, said the cases were being 'thoroughly investigated." She said, however, she could not receive any information until the investigation was complete. Detective Leon Nowinsky said any further official action would come from Mrs. Hale.

Unreasonably Expensive

The two incidents recalled the effect of the Norfolk Real Estate Board in November to amend the rat control ordinance on the grounds that it was 'unreasonably expensive.' The policy of the real estate board, as stated before the Council of November 12, was that there was no possible way to rat-proof frame buildings except by rebuilding the ground floor using masonry construction.

An amended ordinance took shape after a conference between W. G. Maupin, an attorney representing the board, City Manager C. H. Harrell, City Attorney Jonathan W. (illegible), Jr., and Dr. Huff.

The principal change made was to provide that commercial buildings be rat proofed while residential buildings should be rat-stopped only. Also, the proposed new ordinance clarifies the definition of 'property owner.'