The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-04-05
A SINGULAR STORY.

Fight Between Rat Terrier and 4
swarm of Rnts-The Dog Vanquished
Rid Devoured-Fuucrals of the vic<
Tins of the Contest.
The NJ lwaukee SeatiNei vouches for the
following remarkable incidents:
Near one OF our grain warehouses, situ.
ated on the river bank, large swatrns Of
rats have been in the habit Of feasting on
the wheat which had been scattered Around,
few DAYS ago black aud. tan terrier, get
ting wind of the rendezvous, made an at.
tack upon couple of rats that had vens
tured too far into the open air Seizing one
in its teeth, 1t shook it vigorously. The
rat squealed piteously, attracting TO the
spot dozen or more companions.
These on sooiug the situation of affairs
joined in raising the alarm. In less time
than it takes us to tell the incident, the ice
around was black with a swarm of rats;
numbering several hundreds. The terrier,
after dispatchiug the first victim, charged
Into the swarm with the evident determin.
| alton OF serving the remainder in like man.
ner But for once a terrier was doomed to
meet with fight from the poor animals he
hal so long devourcd at pleasure, and in
trice he was surrounded ON all sides by a
swarm of ferocious brutes, anxious TO be
/ avenged for the death OF their companion,
| Then eusued the most frightlul scene imagl
| Unable. The rats swarmed around their ad.
versary aud fastened their claws and teeth
| in his tlosh. Tho dog enraged by the pain,
! fought bravtly, killing scorca OF his eno-
mics in his contest for life. But tho odds
| against him were too great. and aftor q
/ sharp conflict, which lasted for about five
minutes, hc was forced to succumb. His
/ body was literally ddvourod by tho rats,
/ they seeming to take savage delight ia
/ tearing their vanQuished enemy hy peico.
meal Scarcely vestige of the animal re-
muined behind. The terrier died game,
! however, there were about half hundred
rats lett upon the fcld, bleeding and man.
! gled, and AS mary more, more OF less in.
! jurcd.
A singular instance of the kindness of
dumb animals to their fellows was noticed
at the conclusion of the combat. A number
OF the comhatauts had been somewhat lac
Grated hy the teeth oi the dog, Their com.
panjous gathered in groups around them,
licked the blood from their wounds, and
then te derly carried them in their teeth
to their nests The bodies oft slain were
tenderly cared for, One 10y one they wero
carried away toa hole in the ice near BY,
whore they we're piled up. When all tho
lodies had been gathered together, the sur.
Nivors grouped around them, and one Of the
number mounting upon the pile OF bodies
seemed 90 deliver u brief funeral Grafton
over the remains of their companions. Tho
utmost stiffness reigned among the com.
pany during the address of their chief.
The whole company then proceeded to tum.
BILE their dead companions Into the wa
ter where they soou sank from sight.
In half an hour scarcely vestge of the
conflict remained The funeral service was
the most extraordinary instance of the kind
we have yet observed, and is well deserv.
ing of the study OF naturalists. The fight
on the whole would have delighted sport.
ing men and dog iancers. Ii was highly
interesting to the few who observed it,