The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-26
THE COW WHIPPED THE RATTLER,
But the Victory Was Won at the Cost
OF Her Own Valuable Life.
Fron1 the Mem York SIM

OF Her Own Valuable Life.
From the Ne,o York Sun.
GALEToN, Pa, Sept. 19.-Cattle pastur-
ing or browsing in localities infested by
rattlesnakes detect the dangerous presence
of the reptiles by scent, fact which obser-
walton and experiment have positively es-
tablished. As rule, when rattlesnake is
thus scented the animal will either hasten
away from the spot or change the direction
of its feeding.
Deer also detect rattlesnakes by scent, but
instead of retreating from the reptile follow
up the scent and attack the RATHER or rat
tiers. They have a deadly hatred for the
venomous snakes and destroy large num-
berj of them by tramping them to death
with their fore feet, which they handle go
dexterously that a snake once attacked BY
them rarely escapes.
The rule of retreating from the prox-
unity of rattlesnakes on the part of cattle
was broken the other day by fine Attorney
COW that was pasturing in an old meadow
on Bald Hill, locality up South branch
with a wide reputation for rattlesnakes
There were several COWS in the field, and a
boy who was crossing it noticed tnat first
one and then another of the cows, as thew
led along toward Doggy place, raised her
head, shifted the air, and then turned away
from the spot. The boy knew that the
COWS had scented a rattlesnake, and all
but one OF them avoided it. That one
was the Attorney cow. She stood still
with her head raised for @ moment, then
gave it peculiarly ugly shake, and fed on
directly toward the spot where the snake
was lying. The COW had gone but a few
steps when the snake sprang its rattles
The COW stopped and hesitated between re-
treat and holding her ground. Looking
ahead, the boy discovered the rattlesnake
lying by bog few feet beyond where the
cow stood, and he started to drive her away
from her danger, but she had made up her
mind by this time. and with vicious bel
low she rushed forward with her head low
cred to catch the snake on her horns. The
RATHER made his strike, and sank his fangs
in the cows lower lip. The COW shook the
snake loose and backed away, lashing her
sides furiously with her tail, while the rat
tier coiled again In expectation or another
attack.
The COW stood still moment, and then,
with a louder, madder below than before,
dashed once more upon the snake. This
time the RATHER struck his assailank on the
nose. Again he was shaken loose and the
COW plunged upon him as he cooled for
| third strike, and planted both fore feet upon
him, crushing him in several places. Still
| the RATHER continued the fight, trying to
coil and strike, but tho COW trampled
him again under her feet, and continued
! trampling him until the reptile was ground
| into bits.
During the fight between the COW and the
RATHER the other cows stopped feeding and
stood gazing at the contest with heads high
in the air and flashing eyes. IS If they under
stood tbs deadly peril of their companion.
] IL they did they had good reason, for, al
though the COW got home with the others
that afternoon. she died from the effects of
the rattlesnake's bites an hour later.