The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-23
STORIES OF THE DAY.
A Rationale Hunter In an Awkward
Predicament.

Predicament.
Fred Edgar of Corning, N. Y, went
out on the hills near that place the other
day to hunt rattlesnakes. He discovered
a fine yellow n and clapped a forked
stick over its neck, and running his hand
up along the snakes body to the back
Of its head grasped the snake around
the neck and started home with it. Ed.
gar didn't know the size of the job he
had undertaken. The RATHER twisted its
long body around his arm and showed
its sharp fangs as it glared at its captor,
who was frightened almost into fits,
but did not dare to release the deadly
snake, fearing that it would instantly
sink its fangs into him. He got home
with the snake at last, and everybody
promptly ran away, leaving Edgar still
handicapped by the RATHER, which vir-
tually had possession of him instead of
him having the snake.
After an hours unpleasant quandary
Edgar at last hit upon IA plan to get his
release from the snake. Still grasping
it by the neck, he managed to make a
slipping moose III a string with his dis
engaged hand. This he slipped over the
rattler's head and had it shared. He
then jerked the snake out of the hand
that had graSped it SO long, and it fell
on the ground some distance away.
lettering the snake with the string Ed
gar got "a box and imprisoned his prize.
When he vas asked why he didn't choke
the RATHER to death and end the un-
r1nnSnnt CItJnttn1, of 1,,rn 1s\t,lo I'll
be dinged ~ said he. Il never thought
of that He says 81 1000 in cash
wouldn't tempt him to repeat his per-
Torrance with that or any other rat
tlesnake.
The Terrier and the Indestructible Rat.
A rat, n terrier and q small boy
caused thousands Of people to cOngrc-
gate ON West Madison street about 8
o'clock last night, and it was not a real
rat either. The rat. which was u most
natural looking rubber affair. was con-
nected with a long thin pipe and a
bulb. Every time the boy squeezed the
bulb the rat would leap forward in a
most lifelike manner and the ladies ON
the street would shrek with terror and
gather up their skirts. This delighted
the crowd which surged down on the
boy and the rat from every direction.
The fun was kept up for an hour or
more, even the policeman on the beat
stopping now and then for a good
laugh. Suddenly, however, a sleek look
ing rat terrier sprung through the
crowd and made for his mortal enemy.
Down he bounced. The boy gave the
bulb a jab, and the rat leaped about six
feet. Again the dog made a spring.
This time he caught the rat in his teeth,
and the pressure caused it to give out a
most lifelike squeak, which delighted
the dog and audience alike.
By this time the street was packed.
Time after time the dog would shake
the rat and put it down, only to see it
leap again, to the wild delight of the
crowd. For the first half hour it was
mere play to the plucky little terrier,
but after awhile things began to grow
monotonous. The dog lay down for a
rest, and the rat jumped over him.
This was too much for canine flesh
and blood to stand. He leaped up again,
and now the contest kept up until the
dog fell to the pavement from sheer ex-
haustion. Painting and with eyes pro-
truding, he made a few more Intellectual
snaps at the rubber rat, then turned
over on his side and laid his head on
the pavement. His owner worked his
way through the crowd, picked up his
pet in his arms, uttered a few remarks
and offered to lick the man who had
killed his dog. The crowd jeered and
dispersed, while the small boy strolled
down the street in search of another
ambitious rat terrier. Chicago News.
A Cry For Help Over the Telephone.
1--WE sometimes hear queer things
over the wire" remarked Police Tele-
phone Operator Moorehead a few even
ings since. But the strangest occurred
about a month ago.
Calls were coming i'll slowly that
night, and between switches l was read
ing a very interesting and highly excit-
ing novel from the French. l had
reached Il passage where the hero was
about to be discovered in his hiding
place and put to death, when with a
whir and rattle the exchange shutter
dropped. / closed the circuit and yelled
Hello and a mans voice, in pleading
and wild tones, came forth from the
receiver:
"'For Gods sake send some police
men here quick-quick-they'll kill
me-
Just then l could hear another bass
voice howl:
"'Here's the-! He's calm for the
police. Let give him - and Theard
a sound like something coming in forci-
BILE contact with something 1eshy, and
the crack that nealed from MY receiver