The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-10-20
A ROUGH RAT STORY.

W. Nj. Read, of Bolivar, Tenn con- tributes the following grim story to the Memphis Ltdgey:
 A few days ago quite singular occur renee happened on farm owned by Mir. Wood. medical practitioner here in this vicinity. The occurrence was not so very singular either: no more than you see or hear of most every day of our lives, but the peculiar way in which it happened is something novel. We very often hear of person d, ing ~hen lying down, or pros- trated in .ome way. but we scarce, if ever heard of one breathing his last when standing erect, without single support except one hand resting slightly upon a i frail object by his side. Nevertheless, he passed of with similar grace and ease to i join the silent band, as one ~ho is reelin- ing upon the downiest couch. But such is the case that happened on the place above mentioned. A colored man by the name of Andrew Jackson came to town, and on returning home again. when pass l ing Mir. Wood farm he demanded of the driver to let him get out of the l toward the dwelling. On arrival there ] ne inquired for the doctor. He was told that he was abroad. bu, would be back in a shor, time. He then said tha, he would go on to the barn where he could ! lie down, for he felt little sick, and would come back when the doctor re. turned. Nothing more was thought about 1t until tha, night, when the lad wno was employed in feeding the stock went into the stable as usual, to go through with the routine of his duties, 1 but upon entering he became aware that he was not the only occupant. A man stood directly in front of him. The boy 1 spoke to him, but receiving no reply, he turned and fled to the house to acquaint his master of the facts. They both im- mediatcly returned with light, so they could easily discover the motives of the man was corpse, standing there like q statue, until they had approached quite close to hm with the glanng 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 II was not plea ,ant picture to look upon. so ,he doctor and youth backed unmo- tested ou, of the door, quietly re,taced their steps toward the house and dis patched for the coroner. who did not arrive till about midnight. A post mortem eN- animation took place in which the jury men were puzzled to know whether the deceased had met his death by rats, or otherwise. for during the interim the rats had elambered up the dead mans legs and thence to his shoulders. where the rapacious vermin began to mitigate their oarnal desires by first taking off his ears. then his nose and lastly his lips. Of course thl, left the face destitute of three ot the most prominent features You can imagine that he did no, look much like l hum an being. No wonder the lurymen felt little uneasy when they entered the stable door and saw man before them without either ears, nose or lips. and teeth showing like tha, of grinning cur. The decision ot the jury was soon rendered.
 and read as follows: Uncertain 1 whether the man met his death by some unknown malady. or by rats being lttt too rough on man.