North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-03-20

We don't bet very heavy ON the veracity
of the Milwaukee Sentinel local-izar, but
he gets up some very interesting yarns for
the readers Of that excellent daily. A
well told story is often better than prosy
truth, and to oblige public desire for the
wonderful, We publish the following &C.
count of terrific combat.
We have to record somewhat singular
and almost incredible occurrence which
happened here last week: 1t was terrific
combat between q swarm Of rats and their
natural enemy, black-and-tan terrier.
Near one OF our grain warehouses;, sit
uated on the river bank, large swarlns Of
rats have been in the habit of feasting on
wheat which has been scattered around. A
few days since a black-and-tan terrier, get
ting wind of the rendezvous, made an attack
upon couple of rats that had ventured toe
farinto the open air. Selling one in his teeth
it shook it vigorously. The rat squealed
piteOusly, attracting to the spot dozen OF
more companions. These, on seeing the
situation Of affairs, Joined in raising the
alarm. In less time than it takes US tc
SCil tiiC hSAuChtS WIG lCC ulOuuu WdS OluCh
with a swarm of rats, numbering several
hundreds. The terrier, after dispatchine
the first victim, charged into the swarm
with the evident determination Of serving
the remainder in like manner. But fol
once terrier was doomed to meet with
fight from the poor animals he had SO long
devoured at pleasure, and in trice he wa.
surrounded on all sides by swarm Of fe
rocious brutes, anxious to be avenged fol
the death Of their companion. Then en-
sued the most frightful scene imaginable
The rats swarmed around their adversary
and fastened their claws and teeth in hi.
flesh. The dog, enraged by the pain
fought bravely, killing scores of his enc
mics in his contest for life. But the odd.
against him were too great, and after 8
sharp conflict, which lasted for about five
minutes, he was forced to succumb. Iii,
body was literally deyoured by the rats
they seeming to take a savage pleasure in
tearing their vanquished enemy pieccmcal
Scarcely vestige of the animal remained
behind. The terrier died game, however
for there were about half hundred rat
left upon the field, bleeding and ngled
and as many more, more or less injured.
A singular instance of the kindliness G
dumb animals to their fellows was noticed
at the conclusion Of the combat. A mum
berof the combatants had been somewha
larceatel by the teeth Of the dog. Their
companions gathered in groups ar Juno
them, licked the blood from their wounds
and then tenderly carried them in theil
teeth to their nests. The bodies of the slair
were as tenderly cared for. One by one
they were carried away to q hole in the ice
near by, where they were piled up
When all the bodies had been gathered
together, the survivors grouped around
them, and one Of the number, mounting
upon the pile of bodies, seemed to deliver
Il brief funeral Grafton over the remains oil
their companions. The utmost stiffness
reigned among the company during the
address Of their chief. The whole com
pany then proceeded to tumble their dead
companions into the water, where they
soon sank from sight. In half an hour
scarcely ycstige of the conflict remained.
This funeral service was the most extra
ordinary instance Of the kind we have yet
observed, and is well deserving of the study
of naturalists. The fight as whole would
have delighted sporting men and dog fan-
ciers. 1t was highly interesting to the
few who observed it.