Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1867-03-20
A Rat Story.

The Milwaukee Sentinel on the 18th
has the following;
We have to record a somewhat sin
gular and almost incredible occurrence
which happened here last week. 1t
was a terrific combat between a swarm
of rats and their natural enemy-a
black-and- tan tarrier.
Near one of our grain warehouses.
situated on the river bank. large
swarms OF rats have been in the habit
of feasting on the wheat which has
been scattered around A tarrier dog
getting wind Of the rendezvous, made
an attack upon a couple of rats that
had ventured too far In the open air.
Selling one in its teeth it shook it
vigorously. The rat squealed pite.
ously, attracting to the spot dozen
or more companions. These, on see
ing the situation Of affairs. Joined
IN raising the alarm In less time
than it takes to tell the incident, the
ice was black with swarm of rats.
several hundred IN number. The tar
rler, after dispatching the first victim,
charged into the swarm with the eyi
dent determination Of serving the re-
mainder in like manner. But for once
a tarrier was doomed to meet with
fight from the poor animals he had so
long devoured at pleasure, and IL
trlce he was surrounded on all sides
By swarm Of ferocious brutes, anx.
ious to be avenged for the death of
their companion. Then ensued the
most frightful scene imaginable. The
rats swarmed around their adversary,
and fastened their claws and tech in
his flesh. The dog enraged by the
pain, fought bravely, killing scores of
his enemies in his contest for life
But the odds against him were too
great. and after sharp conflict which
lasted about five minutes, he was for
ced to succumb. His body was liter
ally dcyoured by the rats, they seem
ing to take a savage pleasure in tear
ing their yanquished enemy peace
meal. The tarricr died game, howev-
er, for there Y ere about half hun
dred rats left upon the field, bleeding
and mangled, and as many more, more
or less, injured
A singular instance of the l1indliness
Of dumb animals to their fellows was
noticed at the conclusion of the com
bat. A number of the rats had been
somewhat lacerated by the tech of the
dog. Their companions gathered in
groupes around them, licked the blood
from their wounds, and then tenderly
carried the IN their teeth % their nest.
The bodies,o the slain were as tender.
ly cared for. One by one they were
carried away to hole in the ice near
by, where they were piled up. When
all the bodies had been gathered to-
gether, the survivors grouped around
them, and one of the number, mount
ing upon the bodies, seemed to deliver
a brief funeral oration over the re-
mains of their companions. The ut
most silence reigncd among the com
pany during the address of their chief.
The whole company then proceeded
TO tumble their dead companions into
the water, where they soon sunk out
of sight. In half an hour scarcely
vestige Of the conflict remained. This
funeral service was the most extraor-
dinary instance Of the kind we have
yet observed, and IS well deserving the
study cf natuIalists The fight as
whole would have delighted sporting
men and dog fanciers. 1t was highly
interesting to the few who observed