The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-03-21
Fight Between a Rat Terrier and a
Swarm of Rats.

We find the following article in the
Milwaukee Seatiaael We infer that it
was, written for the first Of Aors7, but
through the fault of the foreman, . as
IN the case of the Governors Message,
was Published a little ahead of time;
We have to record a somewhat singu-
lar and almost incredible occurrence
which happened here last week. It was
a terrific combat between a swarm of
rats and their natural enemy, a black and
tan terrier. s,a
Near one Of our grain warehouses, sit
uated on the river bank, large swarns of
rats have been In the habit of fe5sting
on the wheat which has been scattered
around. A few days since a black-and-
tan terrier, getting wind of the rendeZ-
vous, made an attack upon a couple OF
rats ttatihad veatured too far into the
open air. Selling one in its teeth, it
shook it vigorously. The rat squeaied
plteousiy, attracting to the spot a dozen
or more companions These on seeing
the situation of affairs, joined in raising
the alarm. In less time than it takes us
10 tell the incident, the ice around was
black with a swarm Of rats, numbering
several hundreds The terrier, after de-
spatehing the ffst victim, charged into
the swarm with the determination of serv.
ing the remainder in like manner. But for
once a terrier was doomed to meet with
fight from the poor animals he had SO
long devoured at pleasure, and in q trlce
ne was surrounded on all sides by a swarm
OF ierociouS brutes, anxious to be ayeng-
ed for the dea5h of their companion
Then ensued the most frightfui scene i'm
aglnable. The rats swarmed around
their adversary, and fastened their claws
and teeth in his flesh. The dog enraged
by the pain, fought brayely, killing scores
OF his enemies in his contest for life
But the odds against him were too great
and after a sharp conflict, which lasted
Tor about five minutes, he was forced to
suceumb His body was literally deyour-
ed BY the rats they seeming to take a
savage pleasure in tearing their vanquish-
Of the animal remained behind The
terrier died game. however, for there
Were about haifsa hundred rats left upon
the field, bleeding and mangled, and as
many more, more or less injured
a singular instance of the kindness
OF dumb animals to their fellows was no
tiC0si lt tilC COAkClI34Ui1 Vi tilC SO1lfJdi.
number Of the combatants had been
somewhat lacerated by the teeth of the
dog. Their companions gathered in
groups around them. licked the blood
from their wounds, and then ten1erly
carried them in their teeth 70 their nests.
The bodies Of the slain were as teucerly
cared for One by one they were CARR
ed away to a hole in the ice near by,where
they were piled up. When all the bod
les had been gathered together, the sur
viyors grouped around them, and one of
the number, mounting upon the pile OF
bodies, seemed to deliver a brief funeral
Grafton over the remains Of their compan-
ions The utmost stiffness reiened among
She company during the address of their
chief The whole company then proceed
ed to tumble their dead companions into
the water, where they soon sank from
sight In half an hour scarcely vestige
of the conflict remained, This funeral
service was the most extraordinary in
stance Of the kind We have yet observed,
and IS vel deserving of she study Of nat
uraIists. The fight as a whole would
have delighted sporting men and dog
fanciers 1t was highly interesting to the
feWswho observed it.