The Washington herald., 1907-03-10
CAT KILLS A RATTLESNAKE
Battle to Death Before a Gang of
Railroad Graders.
Clever Tactics to Avoid the Snakes
AttacEs-Cnt Finally Grabbed the
Reptile by the Neck.

Life in a railroad construction camp at
its best is a hard. humdrum existence, but
men. no matter where they are OF what
may be the conditions under which they
earn and eat their daily bread. will find
some way TO pass the tedious hours while
they rest their weary frames.
such a camp was the scene Of one Of the
strangest battles between two widely diff
ferent species Of living beings one warm
Sunday afternoon three years ago, relates
tho Minneapolis Tribune.
The place was the Great Western rail-
way, among the rugged hills Of Iowa, just
over the Minnesota line. It was there
that a gang Of about 100 men watched
fight TO the death between mans worst
enemy. a big rattlesnake and the pet Of
the camp. q half-grown kitten.
Somehow. from somewhere. this kitten
had come and east It's lot among tie rough
laborers, attracted, perhaps boy the prom
Use of food from the companys boarding
car Il quickly made friends with the
lonely men. but was wild and hard 10 ap-
proach. although e. tried To be friendly,
and in spite Of the life she had led was
pretty animal Of the striped or tiger
variety
on this particular Sunday afternoon the
men were passing the time as best they
could, gathered around the bunk cars.
when one Of them noticed the camp cat
circInE around a certain spot on the right
OF way. The cat was lashing itself with
her tail and seemed wild with fright and
fury.
The workers gathered quickly, forming
ring and the reason for the cat o
strange action was found 10 be a large
RATHER cJiIed into the sand with its head
raised 20 strike and It's rattles playing a
lively hum of warning.
The cat paid no attention 20 the gather
ing Of the men and the crowd remained
quiet watching proceedings, curious 30
see what would be the outcome.
Round and round went Tabby, each time
making the circle smaller. with eyes
shining like living Goals Of fire. her fur
stood on end and the white frOth streamcd
from her champing jaws. CrOuChing low.
carefully and guaTdediy she CTept nearer
and nearer 10 the deadly foe
When the feline had reached a point
within few feet of the cOiled and watch
full reptile It came 10 "a dead stop and
prepared TO spring, setting her paws firmly
into the gravel
oithlA TIE Nllhtu llttlu anu btuG1 ~ u
OF the snake rose from the coil, while the
black forked tongue played between the
deadly fangs.
Like a streak Of lightning the RATHER
struck at the cat, but she was far too
quick. and swifter than the eye could
travel had sprung 10 one side and buried
her teeth in the snakes writing body be
fore it could recover coil and strike
again.
Giving the reptile a flop to prevent it
reaching her, and before her actions could
be fully comDrehended by the watching
thrOng. the cat was out Of harms way.
again going round and round still froth-
ing at the mouth and still lashing her tail
Again and again was this performance
repeated until IL could be seen that the de
scendant Of the tiger family had con
quered mankinds most hated enemy.
Finally the snake struck more feebly
and recoiled more slowly Then Tabby
succeeded I'm sinking her teeth i'm the
snakes neck. This time she did not let
60 her hold. but crunched and crunched
until she had finished her job and killed
the enemy.