Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-07-25
HOse, Fighting Skunk
A Courageous Animal That Aroused
RisconSin's Pride.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
mTAKE it altogether. I think the

iAkE ~ altogether, l thlnk the
most remarkable animal the
state Of Wisconsin ever produced"
said the man from Appleton, was
Jim Patterson's pet skunk, Nose
Jim and Nose lived in a little shanty
on the outskirts Of Appleton and az
though for a long time the people
we're content to have them live some
distance away from everyone else,
popular pride in Moses achievements
became SO strong that Nose and his
owner were always welcome guests
where men Of sporting tastes gath
cred. Nose was more welcome than
his owner. Nose didn't drink rum
and always had excellent ideas as to
propriety. Jim did pretty well in
that line until his faith in Nose was
shattered and then he went to pieces
through grief and keen disappoint-
ment.
II think l never saw so quick
and so complete a breakdown as that
of Jim Patterson. His pride in Nose
had reached such enormous proper
tions that it swelled up and burst
In the wreck Jim was carried down
and drink soon ended him. You see,
Nose had licked pretty nearly every
kind Of domesticated animal to be
found and Jim and the rest Of us
who had also begun TO share in the
town pride over Nose were ready to
back him against pretty nearly any
Kind Of wild creature. We were all
heard that he had killed a rattle
snake one morning with one shake
and had lugged II home in his mouth
for Jim to see. Jim just coddled
that skunk like a kitten and the rest
Of us were almost ready to take him
to our boSoms.
"Mose wasn't his name at first.
Jim called him Corbett until after
that little affair in Carson City and
then he became Fitz. In two years
il became necessary to call him JEFF
and then Jim quit, He said he would
probably have to change the skunk's
name in year or two again and
from all he had heard OF history he
guessed the name Of Nose would do
as well as any other. He was sure
that Moses had been dead long
time and had done things such as
no one else had done, and henceforth
Il had to be Nose with no change
in The name. II turned out to be a
good name, too, for although Nose
was permitted to see the promised
land Of fame he never entered into II
Nose sneaked into Jim's eaHin one
night when Nose was young and
stole a lot Of meat He was caught
IN trap and in The morning he
showed fight 10 such an extent that
Jim took a liking to him and kept
him Just 10 tease him. Gradually
they came to know each other. Jim
began TO trust him and Nose never
abused his confidence. He knew
where he got his meals regularly.
He protected Jim's cabin TO such an
extent that intruders gave II wide
berth. Jlm didn't mind that. His
record had been such that whenever
there was a robbery near town there
was always a suggestion that II
would be a good idea to search Jim
Patterson's cabin or yard for the
stolen goods. They tried that once
after Nose became thoroughly estah-
lished there and after that there
never was another attempt,
Jim began to itac a More COM
Portable life at once and finally used
80 bring Nose with him when he
2ame TO town lie made all sorts Of
wagers as 10 Noses fighting quail
ties and Won them right and left
Whenever any Of us got word from
Jim that he would be at a certain
saloon az a certain hour with Nose
and ready 70 meet all Corners there
was always a roundup Of the sports.
The saloon keeper made money. Jim
made money and got drunk: Nose
always had a fight, which he loved
dearly. and in addition had some
choice bits Of food, and the rest Of
rs had some fun. IL was the most
natural thing in The world that we
should have a town pride in Nose:
we took Jim on sufTerance.
Most first licked an impudent fox
terrier, did 10 as slick as grease. and
De used only his teeth and claws.
Then one night he tackled the best
known Tom cat scrapper in town.
That cats friends and relatives knew
him no more. Then Nose walioped
she best bun terrier in town. Nose
came OF a little Scared after that
sattie. but his courage was undimin-
rshed. After that we had 70 get IN