Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-09
A ROUGH RAT STORY.
A Man Found Standing Dead
With Rats on His Shoulders.

BOLIVAR, Tenn, October 2, 1883.
EDITOR LED0ER;-A few days ago
quite a singular occurrence happened
on q farm owned by Mr.. Wood, a
medical practitioner here in this vi
cinity. The occurrence was not so
very singular either; no more than
we see or hear of most every day Of our
lives, but the peculiar way in which
It happened h something novel. We
very often hear of a person dying
when lying down, OF Frustrated in
some way, but we scarce, A ever heard
Of one breathing his last when stand
ing erect, without a single support
except one hand resting slightly upon
a frail object by his side. Neverthe-
less, he passed of with similar grace
and ease to join the silent band, as
one who is reclining upsn the down.
est couch. But such is the case that
happened on the place above mems
tiobed. A colored man by the name
Of Andrew Jackson came to town, and
on returning home again, when pass
ing Mr.. Woods farm be demanded OF
the driver to let him get out Of the
wagon. Alter getting out he walked
on toward the dwelling. On arriving
there he inquired for the Doctor. He
was told that he was abroad, but
would be back in short time. lie
then said that he would 20 on to the
barn where he could lie down, for he
felt little sick, and would come back
when the Doctor returned. Nothing
more was thought about II until that
night, when the lad who was employed
in feeding the stock went into the
stable as usual, TO 20 through with
the routine Of his duties, but upon
entering he became aware that he was
not the only occupant A man stood
directly in front Of him. The boy
spoke to him, but receiving no reply,
he turned and fed TO the house to ac-
quaint his master of the facts. They
both Immediately returned with a
light, 50 they could easily discover
the motives Of the intruder. Little
did they think that the man was q
corpse, standing there like a statue,
until they had approached quite close
to him with the glaring light falling
full upon his distorted features, one
hand resting on the fodder racks and
hat poised upon one side Of his head
He never stood more erect in his life.
of course it was not a pleasant pic
ture to look up0n, SO the Doctor and
youth backed unmolested out Of the
door, quietly retraced their steps TO-
ward the house and dispatched for the
Coroner, who did not arrive till about
midnight, A post norton eKaminas
ton took place in which the jurymen
we're puzzled to know whether the de-
ceased had met his death by rats, or
otherwise, for during the interim the
rats had clambered up the dead mans
legs and thence to his shoulders, where
the rapacious vermin began to miti-
gate their carnal desires by first tax
ing off his ears, then his nose aud
lastly his lips. OF course this left
the face destitute of three Of the most
prominent features. You can imagine
that he did not look much like a hu.
man being. No wonder the jurymen
felt little uneasy when they entered
the stable door and saw a man before
them without either ears, nose or lips,
and teeth showing like that Of grin
ming cur. The decision Of the jury
was soon rendered, and read as follows:
"Uncertain whether the man met his
death by some unknown malsdy, or by
rats being little too rough on man.
w. N Ran