Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-09-09
Antics Of Animals.
THE PART THEY ARE PLAYING IN LIFE

IL Es
From the Hartford (Connecticut) Times.
A keen eyed and gray bearded rat in a
Rockville woolen mill had for long
time evaded every device to entrap him
but an expert took the case in hand and
succeeded at last in beguiling him into
the trap. When the spring announced
that the "old GeneraP was caught the
boys crowded around and peered curl
ously in at the bright eyes and nervous
movements Of tile old fellow, who was
"streaking it' inside. 1t was decided
to put him in the extractor" and if he
survived that treatment to let him go.
The extractor" in a woolen mill is q
machine used to extract the moisture
out of the cloth into a basket that re-
wolves swiftly inside q frame work of
iron. So the, trap was fixed into the
basket and the belt run on. Round and
round went the basket, lurching heavi-
ly from sideto siGe. but gradually grow
| ing steadier as the revolutions became
swifter. Steadily the speed went up
100, ,200, 800 and 400 times a minute. The
eye could just see dark spot in the
basket then there was sudden jar, and
cry was heard that the trap would fly
out. On sudden impulse the belt was
fugoff, the brake put on and the machine
stopped. Was gray beard' dead ? Not
bit. He was streaklDg it fore and aft
the trap, his eyes bright as ever. Once
more he took his place in the basket. 1t
was to be ride to the death this time
fast train that would whirl him around
at the rate of a mile and aquarter every
sixty seconds, The "old General"
seemed to have an impression that af-
fairs were nearing climax, for de-
spairing squeal was heard as the basket
again started up. One minute, two min
utes, three minutes. and the basket was
times to the minute! A steady hum,
high speed. Then the belt was thrown
off and the brake applied. When the
machine stopped the "old GeneraP'
were no more.
RHEA'S WRESTLE WITH THE MAD DOG.
From the Little Rock (Ark.) Gazette.
Near Gold creek, and about seven
miles from the railroad, in Faulkner
county, lives man named Rhea, far
mer on small scale, having recently
opened a farm. Last Monday evening,
while Rhea and his wife were sitting in
front of their door, two dogs jumped
over the fence and ran under the house.
At first very little notice was taken of
the animals, there being several fox
hunters in the neighborhood, and the
Rheas supposed that the dogs belonged
to them, but presently terrific bowling
and fighting began. Soon both dogs
ran out, and one of them. a large brin-
die, of decidedly ugly type, started to-
wards Rhea with mouth half open.
~ nj
churn dasher lying on a stump, and as
over the head. Stunned for moment.
the animal recoi1ed, but only for mo-
ment, for he sprang again before Rhea
had time to prepare himself. Crap
ping the dog by the throat and holding
his mouth as far away a possible, des
perate struggle began. The dogs eyes
glared and his mouth emitted that froth
only know to hydrophobia. Mrs. Rhea
ran into the house and soon returned
with caseknife, which she handed to
her husband. The blunt pointed and
dull edged weapon went time and
again against the animals throat
without drawing blood or lessening
his fury. The strong grasp of the
Hian kept his teeth away, but such a
grip could not last long. Again the
woman entered the house, and this time
returned with shotgun. Cooking it
and rushing up to the foundering dog,
she placed the muZzle close to the ami
malls fianks and fired. There was a sud-
den give way anda seemingly addition
al glare of the eyes. but no sound. TAX
| ing advantage of the first shot, the gun
was again fired and the animal fell over
dead.
CHILD KILLED BY A PANTHER. =
From the New Orleans Democrat.
A shocking tragedy is reported to
have occurred near the Forrest place. IN
st. Mary ssparish, on Tuesday evening
last. A. little before dark on that day
it seems, colored man and woman
started to vista neighbor some distance
off, and small boy of ten years desired
to accompany them. On being prohibi-
ted from doing SO, the little fellow walt
ed until they had started, when he fol,
lowed them "from afar off" The road
he had to travel led through dense for.
est, near which is thick cane-break
When in the road opposite this wood
the boy was heard to utter al agoniz1ne
cry for help, and on the man returning
IA part Of his clothing was found in the
road, and a track of blood led toward
the underground. The man was toe
frightened to enter the forest, but inn
mediately secured assistance, and, upon
entering the woods, portion of the
skeleton of the unfortunate child was
found, bearing unmistakable signs o
having been mangled by the jaws o
some powerful carnivOrous animal. Ii
was supposed that panther had done
| fhis borrihIa work and number of th(