The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-02-28
EPPER AND THE HAMSTER.
Lively Fight Between Thoroughbred
Terrier and Russian Rodent.

Lively Fight Between Thoroughbred
Terrier and Russian Rodent.
During my sojourn in the czar's do
Unions, said an American lately re-
rned after long residence in northern
&rope, | encountered on it's native
ath queer, indomitable little ami
Rl, new to me, whose fighting quail
IS gave my terrier, Pepper, a great
#rprise, and the battle of his life.
yhile waiting at post station for the
Epair of our coach, which had sprung
tire, we strolled beyond little
custer of stables and houses about the
Psting house, out among great level
gain fields then in stubble after the
faping. There were in view near and
pr upon the plain a considerable num-
Rer of small animals running about or
fitting up much as our American prairie
Vogs do l afterward learned the name
kt She creatures | saw, which is the
tamster. 1t is an animal of the marmot
kpecies, valued commercially for it's
fur, and which in some years is SO
numerous as to be very destructive to
fhe crops. 1t is about the size of a
= eoodchuck, but shorter and stouter of
lobild. Its markings in color are strik-
g, being grayish brown upon the
tck and sides, deepening into black on
! 3 uFler portions. Its head and face
NS-7NSs'spW, and it has large cheek
Sucn IN which It stews away the
rhnder it secures in its n1arauding.
y 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 a large old fellow whom the
dog Intercepted in his way to his hole.
The hamster when he found his retreat
cutoff put up his back and stood on
thedefensive, after the fashion of the
wooichuck under similar circum-
stances. Pepper, whose successes in
rat Killing warranted his confidence,
made for him to seize him by the back,
but bund himself nipped on the Shout
der il way that made him miss his
holland though he hung on bravely
he hal at last to break away for new
attaci. Approaching the bristling ro-
dent lie warily watched for an opening
and igain darted at him, and again,
after sharp tussle, had to retire,
leaving the hamster with the honors of
the second round.
BY this time Pepper, whose shoulders
and nick were bleeding, realized that
he hat tackled an enemy that couldn't
be handled like a rat, and ne advanced
upon lin the third time more warily
than hfore, making feints of dashing
upon him, but keeping away from the
hamstr's teeth. These tactics irri-
tated 5he Russian, who in turn took
the ofhnsive and repeatedly rushed at
PeppeI his teeth crashing as he
snappd 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,
Tfrg the vfrfous snap of the
shH6 incfsors, and the next instant
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
pera chance to strengthen his hold,
which was not easy to keep, so thick
was the fur on his opponents Leck.
but he frightened his grip until there
came sudden crunch, then quick
shake, and the hamster's 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 a thoroughbred 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, APP
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
tiers of young in year, and ten or
twelve at birth. The causes of their
appearance and disappearance appear
70 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. Sun.
LOVERS OF SPORT.
xyla4 Enjoy Gsod Health and Proion <
M Their Lives,