The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-03-21
Terrific Combat.

Terrific Combat.
We have to record q somewhat singu
lar and almost incredible occurrence
which hammered here 1asi week. II
was = trT &c fc1bet bstNee4 4 swssn'
Of rats aud their natural enemy black
and-tan terrier.
Near one Of our grain warehouses,
situated on the river bank, iaTgs s"af 10
d 2aAxon n - 1al4sbt seaA ne
Oh N&Eh ins besn ecat terssi
around. A few days since blsca-an
tan terrier. getting wind of the rendes-
vous, made an attack upon a couple Of
rats thsts bad sentured TO Ia, into The
open air. Selling one in i.s tceth II
shook it vigorously. The rat squesled
piteously, attracting to the spot dozen
or more companions These on seeing
the condition OF atiairs joined in raising
the alarm. In less time than il takes Us
TO tell the incident, the ice Was black
with q swarm Of rats. numbering seve-
raj hundreds. The terrier after dis
ps,cAU - II NG0, chaeG inD
,haokzb I'm We evident dessrr,.iaa-
tion of serving the remainder in n like
manner. But fe- eaee . terrier was
doomed to meet with fight from the
poor animals he had 50 long deypurei AZ
pleasure. and in TT che Was surround
ed on all sides by swarm Of ferocious
hruses, anxious 10 he avenged for the
death oftheir companion. Then ensoed
the most frightful scene imaginable.
The rats swarEnei around their aiver-
ssry, and .Gsas;;e fastened their teeth AMI claws
In his flesh. The dog enra-ei by the
pain tough, hravely, killing scores OF
hH eaePirir l,E contrss for life; Tut
the a. aks&u.4ehimwe.~ too great.
and after sharp conflict which lasted
about five minutes. he was forced 10 |.
His body was literally de- .
voured by the rats. they seeming TO /
take sarags pleasure In tearing their |
vanquished enemy piecmeal. Scarcely
a ysesies Of the. animal remained. The |
terrier died game however, for there
were about hrifa hundrrirats left upon
the field, bleeding and mangled, and a.
many mere more or less injured
4 singular instance OF the hindliness
of dumb animals 10 their fellows, was
noticed ST the conclusion OF the combat.
A number Of the combatants had been
somewhat laeeratei by the teeth of the
dog. IneE companions gathered in
groups 1f0sfffd them, licked the blood
from their wounds. and then tenderly
cas6ed themin their teeth to their nests. /
The bodies of the slain were as tenderlv
cared for. One by one they were carried |
away TO . hole in the ice uesr by,
where they were piled up. When all
the bodies he'd been gathered together,
the survivors grouped around them. and
onaof the number. mounting upon the
pile of bodies, seemed to deliver a brief
funeral Grafton over the bodies of their
companions. The utmost stiffness
reisnsa among the company during the
address of their chef. The whole comma
ny then proceeded to tumble their dead
companions into the water, where they
soon sink from sight II half an hour
scarcely vessige OF the conflict re-
manned. This funeral service was the
most extraordinary instance Of the kind
we have yet observed, and is well de-
serving of the study q naturali.ts. The
fight as whole would have delighted
sporting men and dog tanciers. Ii v,s
highly interesting 10 the few who Oh
served it.-AHteagEse .>ezgtiatsi, -Rnrca
l3th.