River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-05-14
A Squirrel Fig hts and Kills a Rattle
snake.
From the Cincinnati Enquirerl
"And round about me, fold on fold,
A writhing serpent hung
An eye of jet, skin of gold,

From the Cincinnati Euquirer
"And round about me, fold on fold,
A writhing serpent hung
An eye OF jet, skin of gold,
garnet for tongue"
LLAMA" T. 3. Aldrich.
The recent ignominious defeat of a
ierocions young lioness by an humble
and ugly donkey in our Geological Gar
den has curious parallel in the result
of a deadly combat Wednesday evening
between a large diamond rattlesnake and
little squirrel, during the snake exhi-
bition over the Rhine, at 522 Vine street.
The snake was one Of the largest Of its
species, six and half feet in length, and
having been without food for months,
was inclined TO act on the offensive; the
squirrel was inexperienced in serpent
warfare, but wonderfully plucky. On
the whole we are inclined to consider the
poor little squirrel as having distinguished
himself even more than
the brave dondev whose prowess
has been ably memorialiZcd in marble by
a Cincinnati SCULPTOR. The DONKEY bare
ly saved his life by desperate struggle,
without inflicting much hurt upon his ter
rible antagonist; the squirrel was left
alone to contend with the most dreaded
and deadly enemy Of human or animal
life, and actually slew his antagonist.
When the squirrel had been placed in
the cage. the slimy-shining monster i'm
mediatcly sprang his rattle and coiled
to strike, while the squirrel, having taken
a good look all around the cage, and found
escape to he impossible, prepared him.
self for the worst watching his glittering-
eyed enemy with fierce resolution. The
spectacle became highly interesting 90
the spectators, for the deadly ophidian
was contending with a far higher form of
life. finer organism, more intelligent
being than the helpless creatures which
ordinarily supplied him with food.
Snake and squirrel alike poised
themselves for the spring,
the tail of the former vibrating so rapid.
ly as TO become almost invisible, and
emitting a sound like the buzz of brazen
clock work the tail Of the latter trem-
bled slightly, very slightly with the ten
sion of the squirrels muscles. Suddenly
II sickly CLEAN Of lvid white shot across
the cage, and struck the squirrel below
the neck, once, twice, with the rapidity
Of an electric fash. The spectators ceas-
ed to laugh and whisper; the sight was
too horrible. But the brave little squir-
rel did not shrink or drop. lie sprang
forward TO meet his terrible foe, and
caught the writing tail between his keen
teeth. There was q cracking sound like
the crushing of chicken bones, "A hideous.
ly shrill hiss, an agonized wriggle through
the long, speckled body, and the next in
slant the squirrel was wrapped in
the coils Of the serpent, while the
| fragments OF the bOny ratlles fell on the
floor Of the cage. crushed into tiny sliyers.
But the squirrel still showed no fear,
although the many-colored folds tighten
ed about him, and the awful triangular
head approached with wde.open jaws and
needle.sharp iangs, and eyes in which
the yellow iris.circle seemed transformed
To- flame. There was another sickly flash
Of white, as the liyid serpent belly turn.
ed upward with the effort Of the last
yenomous stroke. The fangs never
reached the squirrel. lie caught the
speckled neck between his keen teeth, an
inch belov the deadly head with its horri.
bic eyes and the horrible eyes started
out under the pressure. There was an.
other cracking sound, another series Of
CHASTITY commissions. and the horrible
fanged mouth opened for the last time.
The squirrel shook the reptile between
his strong jaws until the clammy coils