The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-07-19
A SINGULAR STORY.
FIGHT BETWEEN A RAT TERRIER AND
AswARM OF RATs-THE DOG VAN
QUISHED AND DEvOURED--FU-
.. NERAL OF THE VICTIMS OY

QOlSHED AND DEvOURED--FU-
NERAL OF THE VICTIMS OF
THE CONTEXT.
THE Milwaukee Sentinel vouches for
the following remarkable incident:
Near one of our grain warehouses
situate on the river bank, large swarms
Of rats have been In the habit of feast
ing on the wheat which has been scat
tered around. A few days ago terrier
getting wind of the rendezvous, made
on attack upon couple of rats that had
ventured too far into the open air. Sell
zing one In its teeth, II shook IL vigor-
ously. The rat squealed piteously, at
tracing to the spot dozen or more
companions. These, on seeing the stu
alton of affairs, joined in raising the
alarm. In less time than 1t takes us to
tell the story, the ice around was black
with a swarm of rats, numbering sew
eral hundreds. The terrier, after dis
patching the first victim, charged into
the swarm with the evident determine
ton Of serving the remainder in like
manner. But for once terrier was
doomed to meet with fight from the
poor animals he had so long devoured
at pleasure, and in trice he was sur
rounded on all sides by a swarm Of fe-
rociOus brutes anxious to be avenged
for the death Of their companion. Then
ensued the most frightful scene imag-
Unable. The rats swarmed around their
adversary and fastened their claws and
teeth into 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 for about five minutes, he was
forced to succumb. His body was liter
ally devoured by the rats, they seeming
to take savage pleasure in tearing
their vanquished enemy to piece-meal.
Scarcely vestige of the animal re-
mained behind. The terrier died game,
however, for there were about half n
hundred rats left upon the field, bleed
ing and mangled, and as many more,
more or less injured.
"a singular instance OF the kindli-
ness of dumb animals to their fellows
was noticed at the conclusion of the
combat. A 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
tenderly carried them in their teeth to
their nest. The bodies of the slain
were as tenderly cared for. One by one
they were carried away to a hole in the
ice near by, where they were piled up.
When all the bodies had been gathe red
together, the turvivors grouped around
them, and one of the number, mount.
ing upon the pile of bodies, seemed
to deliver brief funeral oration over
the remains of their companions. Tho
utmost stiffness reigned among the
company during the address of theil
chief. The whole company then pro
ceeded to tumble their dead companion,
into the water, where they soon sanl
from sight. In half an hour scarcely ,
vestige Of the conflict remained. Thi
burial service was the most extraordi
nary instance Of the kind we have ye
observed, and is well deserving of tn
study of naturalists. The fight rs
whole would have delighted sporting
men and dog fanciers. 1t was highl
interesting to the few who observed it.