San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-11-06
Tbe DaiIv Itebt.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1896.
LIVELY SNAKE-RAT FIGHT.
The Rat Victorious, but He Required
the Help of Il Cat

The Rat Victorious, but He Required
the Help of Il Cat
Glib Strong witnessed a novel COM
bat the other day between a 4-fOOt
black snake. a rat and a cat.
Strong went out TO the barn along
in the middle of the afternoon to get
a pitchfOrk and when he opened the
door he was astOnished to see Il big
snake sliding around the barn floor
in a circle with his head up in the air
about 6 inches.
Neither the snake nor the rat paid
any attention TO the man. and he sat
down on the floor TO see the fun. The
snake evidently was trying its powers
of facination on the rat, but the willy
rodent didn't propose to be charmed
and every few seconds it whirled
round like n flash and before the
snake could strike was facing the mu-
sic again.
The rat showed no fear of it's ad-
verSary. 1t might have squirmed
through a hole in the floor a hundred
times and escaped if it had felt dis
posed to do SO. 1t seemed to be
looking for trouble, and just to work
the snake up little, it occasionally
leaped in the direction of its tail.
which movement caused the snake to
suddenly switch its tail behind it
while it faced the rat with stony
stare and flyinp tongue
The snake circled around the rat a
dozen times, and every trip it made
brought it closer TO the rat. who sud-
denly realized the situation and, leap
ing into the air, described a beautiful
parabolic curve and landed beyond
the snake Safe and sound.
Twice the rat played the trick, and
then there was trouble. The snake ap-
peared to get tired of being monkey
ed with in that way, and suddenly
made rush at the rat.
The move was unexpected by the
rodent and before it realized what
was going to happen its hip was in
the jaws of the snake. There was a
short. sharp squeak and then the
rats long white teeth were buried in
the body of the snake. A few con-
vulsive movements followed in which
it was impossible to identify the snaka
from the rat, and then they separat.
ed. The combatants faced each other
once more. There was a ragged cash
in the side of the snake and the blood
was trickling from a wound in the
rats hip.
o. The rat was inclined to sail in and
bring the affair to a close. but the
snake was wary and played off. The
rat began TO move up on its adver
sary, and suddenly went like a shor
through the air, landing squarely OF
The snakes back and tearing the f1esl
open with it's teeth.
The movement was quick. but thu
snake was alert, and before the IA
could get away from it its long necl
shot back and it's jaws closed on tn,
rats neck.
That was where the hair was ShOr
and the rat squealed like a pig. /
was a good hold and the snake shOOl
the rat like a terrier, finally drOppe,
it, evidently with the idea Of taking
fresh hold, but the rat was far fror
dead. and it no sooner felt itself fire
from the snakes jaws than it iumpe
to a safe distance and faced it's enc
my.
The snakes mad was up. and
went at the rat like a whirlwind. Tn
rat lodged and Unanswered like
general. until il thought it saw al
other opening, then it few at tn
snakes body again, but it missed til
mark, and in an instant it was agai
in the jaws of the enemy. The RI
squealed and clawed, but the snaB
held on.
About this time StrOng'S old CO
Pomp walked through the door tt
sauealing of the rat attracted his a
tention, and stopping, he eyed Il
combatants briefly. He quickly mao
ND his mind to mix with the row. an
crouching, moved stealthily up on Il
snake. The snake was TO busily e
gagged with the rat to notice the ca
and the first intimatiOn ii had of Il
presence of the enemy was a shal
min in the back of the neck that eau
ed its Jaws to fly open.
The rat dropped to the floor t
groggy to take much interest in {
fresh proceedings. The snake had
bigger game TO deal with now. and
less time than it takes to tell it t
the snakes long body slid around t
cats neck and frightened like viz
Pomp needed air. and tried to g
away from the coil about his thrO;
but he couldn't do it, and in his ago.
he lay down on the floor and roll
about. wildly clawing the air.
BY this time the rat had recOvert
its senses. and. seeing an Opportunit
TO get even with the snake, moved u
and helped itself to several moutl
fuIs of its body. That was more tina
the snake could stand, and DOSING II
grip on the cat. it went after the raj