The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-26
LIVELY FIGHT WITH RODENTS.
Farmer JOhnSon's PeriIous Encoun-
ter With IA Mob of Savage Rats.

Farmer JohnSOn's PcriIous Encoun-
ter With IA Mob of Savage Rnts.
oak Harbor (O) Correspondence Toledo
News
News reached this city to-day through
Frank Mattison of Ottawa county. who is
| spending few days in the city. of, a lively
battle which Mr.. Henry Johannson. who
resides on farm about four niles north
east from the hamlet of Maple Shade. in
Ottawa county, and about fifteen miles
east of this city, participated on Saturday.
Mr.. Johannson was on the defensive side,
which was composed Of two while the foe
numbered probably forty-not spaniards-
but rats of very large and ferocious va
riety.
MI Johannson had gone to a remote part
OF the farm to remove some corn cobs from
corn crib and had taken with him n
faithful shepherd dog, to catch any rats
mat might be about Mr. Johannson en-
tered with the deg and closed the door
aItef MN Immediately a large rat peer
ed out from behind a lump of dirt and
others appeared, until Mr. Johannson was
surrounded by a mass Of fighting, squal-
ing rodents which made a feroclous at
+
biting at them severely
One or two holder ones succeeded I'm
climbing on Mr.. Johannson's shoulders.
while he was engaged In doing battle with
the others, and began gnawing and scatch-
Ing at his back in a savage manner Mr..
Johannson attempted to take off his coat.
thinking he could fight better and had
succeeded in getting it partly OF when one
OF the rats made a spring at his throat and
= heU4n aA 90 A,A
hanson thought his time had come. His
/ hands Were fastened in the coat and he
could not extricate himself and fight at
the same time. For second 1t looked as
though the ever-increasing foe would be
victorious. No one was near. if MIR. Jo-
hanson should call, and with his hands
behind him In the coat and a rat az his
throat the situation appeared very du-
bious
During this time the dog had been kept
very busy in preserving his own life in the
face of such an overwhelming foe, but he
soon discovered his masters danger, and
al a bound caught the bold offender and
dealt out to II a swift and terrible pun
ishment, thereby saving his masters life
4 Mr.. Johanson slowly worked his way to
the door and finally succeeded in opening
il and releasing himself, with about a
dozen of the enemy at the same time.
which made their escape. The dog was
left in The crib to dispatch as many more
( as possible while Mr. Johauson, suffering
intensely from the poisonous bites ana
scratches he had received, went for as
sistance
Returning as soon as possible. Mr.. Jo-
hannson found that the dog had killed
twenty of the enemy, and a number OF
others were afterwards Killed or fright
ened away. The dog had been bitten sew
eral times, but remained plucky to the
last
Mr.. Johannson visited physician who
dressed his wounds, and although they
are quite painful. it is thought the case is
not serious Mr.. Johannson considers
himself fortunate in escaping at all from
his terrible experience, and In the future
Will beware Of so daring and ferocious an
enemy, unless properly equipped to do bat
tie successfully