The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
THE COW WAS THE BIGGER,
hut when It Came to Fighting Sunkes She
Wasn't In It with the Cat.

But When II Came to Fighting Sunkes Sho
Wasn't In It with the Cat.
HARRlsBUR, June "a" There were two odd
duels up in the Pine Creek county ono day last
week." said John Gunderman of West Branch
land both Of them wero to tho death. One was
between a Maltese cat and rattlesnake and
the other between COW and rattlesnake
both on the same field at nearly tho same
time and in sight of each other. The only wit
nesses Of the sanguinary combats were num-
Der Of children on their way home from the
West Branch school.
The young woman who teaches that school
has very large and handsome pet Maltese
cat. which has the run Of things in that back
woods seat Of learning and the surroundings.
The children. Just after school was over for tho
day came across this cat up the road a
hundred yards or more from the school house.
acting In q strange manner. 1t was stealing
along tho edge OF n field, where a number Of
cows were pasturing. 1t didn't take one wide
awake little chap long to discover what tho cat
was, stealing toward. It was an immense
IN the grass. only couple OF Yards ahead Of
the cat One little girl started TO Sash the
she she basl by "
younester: An mebbe,, that RATHER won't
The girls were ,powerless to save the cat
and they huddled in a little group by them
cat was going into. and too curious to run
away and miss, seein the pet meet her fate.
s ons s oT an thu tho rssr and &
lis head sioxIy out Of his foId I'd, and began to
was no ordinary cat. She had evidently been
taking 1nie' notes Of the methods Of rattle,
Of tho Snake she stop OBJ raised one paw and
held it out toward the ratter; That was
esa ana ham of h
forward to strike the daring cats foot. But the
cat was as quick as the snak Ike. and her foot
flash 81, lightning the sat brought her other
snake q blow that Knocked it a foot or more to
one side. She didn't keep the velvet over her
at ThS she and d 6s
in two long gashes; from which ths blood
spurted The rattlesnake waE surprised ni
round. but, maddened at the eats assault. he
soed agan for Gh The e 1s
cats smartness. and the boys declared it was
gain the willy Maltese presented her paw
it, for his vicious strike was avoided again by
the cats quick manTnyre. and again the snake
Side the haa3 Thase sku taees {" tie
smart cat were repeated three times. will tho
sn hd a s aG
The moment the snake moved away the, cGss
sprnng upon it iicrrely, and ripped i open half
sharp claws, AS it lay, writhing on the ground
the eat suddenly seized the rattler in her Jaws
h %an ar" e enn thc ,T ncni tha
other side OF the road, where she dug "a hole
and buried it. Then she troted away toward
While the excited children wore discussing
the =; and eat fight one of the boys sud
'''Hui!r, Iguess Jo Browns brndle hefer's
- it ia we'll known that cattle pasturing or
browsing in localities infested by rattlcsnakcS
detect tho dangerous presence Of the reptile
by scent long before it is anywhere near, and
detected. kline or horses will either go away
from that SPOT or change the direction in which
they are feeding This is Why is 50 rare that
reptiles. ThS hoy Who had called attention 10
been watchips. oth9s cattle IL in tho ned;
mt ri led ten
place. raised her head smiled tho air, and then
turned away from tn" spot. Ihe boy knew
tho COWS had turned away from that spot but
Joe Browns brindie. heifer; and when she got
ment then gave it peculiar shake; snort.
ed. and fed right on directly toward the spot
where the snake kew was lying The tS COW hrd
sprang his RATHER. Then it was that tho OBJ
servant boy had made his remark and all the |
boys haStencd over into the field to see what |
J oe Browns brinde hefer would do with the |
rattlnr now that sho had got one:
hotter raised her head and hcsItated between |
retreat and holding her ground Looking |
head OF the heifrr the boys could SEQ tho rat |
tlosnake coiled on a log. one boy at first sug-
gested that they Interfere and drive the COW |
away. but he was hooted down. |
WHAT said one of his companions. A |
grcat big COW orter cit away with a rattler |
hadn't she. II Il little NIaty cat kim
Tho snake was only few feet ahead Of the |
hestating heifer, and, after gazing at the ugly |
reptile q while the young COW made up her
savage rush for the reptile. MS il to catch him |
IN her horns. But the rattlor struck and sank |
his fangs in her lower lip. The cow shook tho
snake loose and backed away. lashing hor
sides furiously with her tail. while the rattle
snake coiled again and awaited a second at
tack. The heifer stood still a moment and |
then. with a loud mad below. rushed nerrely
upon, the snake again. I'll Is time the RATHER
struck hcr IN the nose, Again he was shaken
,oiled for another strike. and planting both
'orefeet upon him crushed him through and
through. Still this snake continued to fight
Jut tho heifer kept him well under her feet
md contin ued tram ping him until he was torn
% pieces All the while the strange fight was
going on tho other COWS stopped feeding and
at a safe distance watched the con-
est with flashing eyes and erect heads, as If
hey understood the deadly peril of their com
Browns brindle heifer paid the penalty Of her
collation. Of pasture rules with her lfe for she
He'd that night from the effects Of the rattler's
poison"