Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-03-07
PEPPER AND THE HAMsTER.
Lively Fight Between Thoroughbred
Terrier and n Russian Rodent.

| Lively Fight Between Thoroughbred
Terrier aud Russian Rodent
During my sojourn in the czar's do
minions, said an American lately re-
turned after long residence in northern
Europe, | encountered on its native
| heath queer, indomitable little ami
NAL, new to me, whose fighting quail
ties gave my terrier, Pepper, q great
surprise, and the battle of his life.
While waiting at post station for the
repair of our coach which had sprung
tire, we strolled beyond little
cluster of stables and houses about the
posting house, out among great level
grain fields then in stubble after the
reaping. There were in view near and
far upon the plain considerable num-
Der of small animals running about or
sitting up much as our American prairie
dogs do. | afterward learned the name
of the creatures | saw, which is the
hamster. 1t is an animal of the marmot
species, valued commercially for its
fur, and which in some years is so
numerous as to be very destructive to
the crops. 1t is about the size of
woodchuclS, but shorter and stouter of
build. Its markings in color are strik-
ing, being grayish brown upon the
back and Sides deepening into black on
its under portions. Its head and face
are yellow, and it has large cheek
pouches in which it slows away the
plumber it secures in its marauding.
Pepper made dashes at several of
these animals, which took to their
holes before we could get near them,
but at last the walls of an old house
and yard screening our approach, we
came upon large old fellow whom the
dog intercepted in his way to his hole.
| The hamster when he found his retreat
cut off put up his back and stood on
the defensive, after the fashion of the
woodchuck under similar circum-
stances. Pepper, whose successes in
rat killing warranted his confidence,
made for him to seize him by the back,
but found himself nipped on the shoul-
der in a way that made him miss his
hold, and though he hung on bravely
he had at last to break away for a new
attack. Approaching the bristling ro-
dent he warily watched for an opening
and again darted at him, and again,
after a sharp tussle, had to retire,
leaving the hamster with the honors of
the second round
BY this time Pepper, whose shoulders
and neck were bleeding, realized that
he had tackled an enemy that couldn't
be handled like rat, and he advanced
upon him the third time more warily
than before, making feints of dashing
upon him, but keeping away from the
hamster's teeth. These tactics irri-
tated the Russian, who in turn took
the offensive and repeatedly rushed at
Pepper, his teeth gnashing as he
snapped at the dog in his fury Pep
per, who was about one-half the
heavier, was the taller and more act
i've, and easily lodged his opponents
rushes, not trying to seize him, but
keeping up his feints of attack. His
| opening came at last and as the ham
ster made for him, instead of springing
away he suddenly whirled half round,
| just missing the vicious snap of the
| sharp incisors and the next instant
had seized him at the nape of the neck.
| The rodent tried to turn his head to
| bite, and then endeavored to roll over
on his back, but the dogs grip held
like iron and his weight forced the
hamster to the ground. This gave Pep.
per chance to strengthen his hold,
which was not easy to keep, SO thick
was the fur on his opponents neck.
but he frightened his grip until there
came n sudden crunch, then quick
shake. and the hamsters neck was
broken.
The victor's neck and shoulder was
bleeding freely from two wounds, one
of which barely missed the main artery
of his neck. Any dog of his size other
than u thorough Bred and shrewd
fighter as WELL would have been
whipped, and perhaps killed 1t was
his maneuvering, as well as his strong,
sustained grip at the end that won the
dog the fight
was afterward told that the ham.
sters come and go in large numbers, ap.
pearing in different parts of Russia
somewhat as gray and black squirrels
are known to do in America. They
are great breeders, having several lit
ters of young in year, and ten or
twelve at birth. The causes of their
appearance and disappearance appear
to be as little understood as that of the
Jennings, that periodically lay waste
the farming lands in parts of Norway
and Sweden in their march to the sea-
But did not hear that the hamster
ever follows the example of the lem.
ming in taking to the water and swim
ming seaward to his destruction. N
Y. SUM-