San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-08
CAT AND copPERAeAo
Tabby Wins the Fight with Reptile and
saves a Canary's Life.

huolln OlboOhs Vi mn NICSN.
Titusville, N. j., set cage containing
a canary on the front porch to give
the bird fresh air. The cage had been
on the porch about half an hour when
big copperhead snake crawled out
from under the steps and stretched it.
self out in the sun. The canary was
making great deal of fuss about TAX
ing bath, and its futterings finally
attracted the attention of the snake
which Immediately started up the
steps. As soon as the copperhead
reached the porch it coiled itself near
the cage, and soon the canary seemed
fascinated and unable to break away
from the snakes glittering eyes. In
its helplessness it uttered pitiful little
cries.
This business had been going on sew
eral minutes and the copperhead had
crawled nearer the cage until it was
almost in striking distance of the bird.
Its ugly, square head was raised sew
eral inches from the floor and its
tongue played in and out between its
jaws. Then Jason, the family cat,
came sauntering around the corner of
the house in search of cool spot to
lie down in. He stopped at the
foot of the steps and gave the
side of his face a wipe with one
big paw. He was at the point of re-
Stunning his walk when the weak little
chirps of the canary attracted his at
teution. Jason and the bird were firm
friends. They had grown up together,
and it was no unusual thing for the
canary to ride around the sitting room
on the cats back or eat off the same
dish with him. The instant Jason
heard the birds plaintive cry lie sur
missed something was wrong and
sprang up the steps in the direction of
the cage. When he reached the ver-
anda he saw the snake and jumped
back as if frightened. The copper
head struck at the bird, but was I'M
able to reach it through the bars of
the cage.
The evident suffering of its little
friend aroused Jason's dander, and he
began to crawl toward the snake.
His tail twitched and he licked his
chops nervously. The snake was too
intent on reaching the bird to notice
the cat. Jason crouched a few feet
from the cage and waited for the
snake to come around. The copper
head slid around the cage and when
on the side near the cat raised its head
to strike. As it did so Jason's form
arched through the air and came down
on the snakes body. There was a
growl or two, few sharp splits mixed
with ugly Kisses and Jason was away
from the snake with his back bumped
up and his tail like a scrub-brush.
The snakes skin was torn by the cats
claws, but he had received no serious
injury, and, with its mad up to the top
notch, it turned on the cat and made
ready to spring. 1t didn't wait long
before jumping, but when it landed
Jason wasn't there, and before
the copperhead knew what had hap
pened it received a rake across the
back from the cats claws that made it
run for the edge of the veranda, in the
hope, no doubt, of sliding over and
away from its assailant But Jason
had his fighting clothes on, and he
didn't propose that the snake should
get off so easily Just as the copper
head began to slide over the edge of
the porch Jason grabbed it by the tail
with his teeth and yanlled it back.
Once more the snake coiled and showed
fight 1t struck at the cat again, but
the nimble-footed Jason was away,
and once more raked the serpents
body with his claws. Again the snake
attempted to escape, and again it was
yanked back to the porch by the cat
This time Jason was a little slow in
getting away, and the copperhead
sank its fang in his leg. The pain of
the wound set Jason going at fine
steam and with a growl he snapped
his teeth together through the snakes
body about three inches below the
head. The copperhead made an effort
to break away, but Jason held on and
while he chewed the serpent's neck he
lacerated its flesh with his claws.
This treatment was too much for the
snake and it shortly gave up the
ghost Jason finally let go the snake
and went out into the garden and
rolled in the dirt. His leg swelled up
as big as mans arm from the effect
of the snakes bite, but he chewed cat
nip and rolled in the dirt a couple Of
hours and then was about as good as
new.-N. Y. Sun.
dead Broke on English"