Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-02-03
MAD COYOTES HAVE
APPEARED IN
ASOT|N
NUMBER OF CASES OF ATTACKS
OF RABIES AMONG ANIMALS
CAUSES CONCERN.
ONE animal KILLED IN CITY
Attacked children as They Were Leav-
ing Church and Was Killed by Young
Man With a Axe.

The following from the Lewiston Tri
bune of Monday reports the menace OF
rabid coyotes in and surrounding Aso
tin, Washington, made especially dan
gerous by the cold weather and snow
and suggests a possible menace in
neighboring sections which should be
provided for in case and trouble is
Forthcoming. The statement is as fol.
lows:
The coyotes of Asotin county are ex.
periencing a severe attack of rabies
according to reports received from the
rural sections, and one case of dog
with the diesase in the city is reported.
A number of cases are reported from
the highlands around Asotin.
Joe Mackay reports from the head.
quarters of Asotin creek that in that
section there are a greater number of
coyotes than ever before. He says that.
driven by cold and hunger, they are
becoming bold. The other evening,
they invaded the sheep corral, killing
two fat ewes, and the next night some
steel traps were set and one coyote was
caught. Earlier in the tall nine were
caught with traps near the carcass of a
dead horse. No cases of rabies were
reported by Mr.. Mackey and his state
ment only shows how this pest has in
creased in number since the state re-
moved the bounty for coyote scalps
some three years ago.
The most startling instance of the
rabies was at the Christian church last
Monday when the young folks were
starting to their home from choir prac.
tice. The practice was held as usual
in the basement and as the young ladies
opened the door into the hallway to go
home they gave a cry and strated back
with the exclamation "Mad dog!o and
closed the door. Pandemonium broke
loose and every one sought the seats or
attempted to beat retreat out of
another door.
Ralph Jones, high school student.
sought the furnace room and secured
an axe. He advanced through the door
into the vestibule to meet the dog. In
two blows he knocked the animal sense
less and dragged it out the rear door
of the church into the back yard. Sud
denly the dog recovered and with
growl was on its feet. 1t was with diff
ficulty that Jones secured his axe and
gave the animal death blow.
William Weissenfels, of the Weiss
iANSS hNoi 1ASoClIl, dlSo Gt1lS OF
an experience with mad coyote. A
few days ago coyote came to his
place and bit calf, even becoming
SO bold as to venture upon the porch
of the house and biting the house dog
d He shot the coyote after hot pursuit.
The calf died and as a matter of pro.
lection he shot the dog.
Adjacent to Mr.. Weissenfels place
on Montgomery ridge, George Apple
ford lost two cows. William Jones.
living in this same country, the Ana
tone flat, reports that few nights
ago a dog had a fit and showed the
usual signs of hydrophobia, foaming at
the month and swapping. He killed the
dog the next morning. A later report
from Mr.. Appleford is that he lost
three cows and nine head of hogs from
some unknown disease and suspecting
that 1T was hydrophobia or rabies, sent
one OF the heads of the cows to Wash
lngton State college for ANALYSIS.