The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-08
Cat Kills Rather
KITTEN srRAYs INTO RAILROAD
CAMP AND FIGHTS REPTILE
TO A FINISH.


From the Minneapolis Tribune.
Life In railroad construction camp
at It's best is a hard hum-drum exist
snce. but men, no matter where they
are Or what may be the conditions
lunder which they earn and eat their
daily bread, viii find some way to
pass tbs tedious hours while they rest
their weary frames.
Such a camp was the scens of one
of the strangest battles between two
widely different species Of living he.
ings one warm Sunday afternoon three
years ago.
The place was on the Great West
ern railway. among the rugged hills
of Iowa. just over the Minnesota line.
1t was there that a gang Of about a
hundred. men watched a fight to the
death between mans worst enemy. a.
big rattlesnake, and the pet OF the
camp. q balf-grown kitten.
Somehow, from Somewhere, this
kitten had come and cast its lot among
the rolEh laborers, attracted perhaps
by the promise Of food from the com.
Dany's boarding car. 1t quickly made
friends with the lonely men. but was
wild and hard to a%pproach,a Though
NJ tried to be friendly and. in spite
of the life, she had led, was a pretty
animal of he stripped or tiger va
riety.
On this particular Sunday after
noon the men were passing the time
as best the could gathered around the
bunk cars, when one OF them noticed
the camp cat eircling around a certain
spot on the r%ight-ofway. The cat
was flashing itself with her tail and
seemed wild with fright and fury.
The workers gathered quickly. form
ing a ring. and the reason for the
cats strange action was found to be
a large rather. coiled into the sand,
with its head raised to strike and its
rattles playing a lively hum of warn
ing.
The cat paid no attention to the
gathering OF the men, and the crowd
remained qaiet, watching proceedings,
curious to see what would be the out
come.
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 streamed from her clamping
jaws. c%rouching low, carefully and
guardedly she crept nearer and near
er to the d~eadlytfoe.
When the feline had reached a point
within a few feet OF the coiled and
watchfnl reptile IT came to a dead
stop and prepared to spring. settling
her paws firmly into the gravel.
Slowly the wicked head and beady
eyes OF the snake rose from the coll,
while the black forked tongue play.
ed from between the deadly fangs.
Like a streak OF lightning the rat.
tier struck at the cat; but she was far
too quick, and swifter than the eye
could travel had sprung to one side
and buried her teeth in the snakes
writhing body before it could recov.
er. coil and strike again.
Giving the reptile a flop, to prevent
1t reaching her, and before her actions
could be fully eomprehended by the
watching throng. the cat was out Of
harms way, again going round and
round, ctll frothing at the mouth, and
still lashing her tail.
Again and again was this perform
ance repeated, until It could be seen
that the descendant of the tiger FAM
lily had conquered mankind's most
hated enemy.
Finally, the snake struck more fee
bly, and recoiled more slowly. Then
Tabby succeeded in sinking her teeth
in the snakes neck. This time sn.-
did no let go her hold. but crunched
and crunchsd until she had finished
her job killed the enemy.
That night there was but little said
when the lanterns were lighted and
hang in the bunk cars, but from that
day until winter broke up the camp
and closed the seasons work one con-
structioH camp had its little heroine,
who was always treated with Kindness
and respect. /,
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