Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1894 — ITS SHELL ITS FORT. [ARTICLE]

ITS SHELL ITS FORT.

How a Tortoise Whip* a Number of Rata. A tortoise which was a most unique attraction years ago at Parkersburg, W. Va., has returned after neurly throe years** absence. It is about six Inches in length and almost a porfect ellipse in shape, A day or two ago tho tortoise was picked up uptown, and was identified by a series of dates—tho latest one 1891 —carved into his shi 11. Tho tortoise has proved one of tho local at tractions for tho sports. The tortoise was presented to a local merchant four or five years ago by some one who picked him up in the forest. His new owner set him down in the yard in tho rear of the store, and he was forgotten until one day a few days aftor his arrival, when one of tho clerks heard a terrific squoaling in the yard, and looking through the window, saw a strange sight. A big rat had attacked the tortoise and was biting and scratching at him, but with all his attempts the rat failed to make even an indentation in the armor of his enemy. The unique sight soon attracted the clerks and customers, until standing room was at a premium. The big rat climbed all over the tortoise and tried all points of vantage, but his sharp teeth merely slipped from tho smooth shell. While all this was going on the tortoise lay with feet closely gripped to the ground, while his head had been drawn in out of sight. Presently, in climbing ovor his antagonist, the rat stood with Ills hind foot in front of tho place whore the tortoise’s liead ought to have been, and it was there yet, for in a second the head and neck shot out and the horny mandibles closed with a snap on the rat’s hind legs. When the rat felt the grip it twisted about with a squeak of pain and rage and tried his best togot at his enemy’s head, but the shrewd tortoise had withdrawn not only its head but tho rat’s hind leg between tho upper and under shells, out of its enemy’s reach. Fight and struggle as it would, tho rat failed to move tho tortoise an atom. It then turned and tried to break loose, but that was equally as ineffectual for a minute, when it broke away, but with one leg as cleanly amputated as if cut with a knife. The rat bled to death. Astor this battle almost every day a similar one occurred. Sometimes the lats double-teamed on the scaly gladiator, but the result was always the same—a leg amputation, a tail abbreviated, a disk of hide and flesh cleanly cleft, or an almost severed nock always ended the battle. The clerks and young fellows enjoyed the unique departure in sport, and whenever a battle was on they filled the windows and doors and excitedly made their bets on points. The tortoise never paid any attention to the spectators, and the rats after getting fairly excited paid all of their attention to their enemy. This sort of thing continued for months, until at last it appeared as if the rats had caught on and quit for good, as they entirely disappeared from that locality. Some time after the rats coased to appear, the tortoise, probably ennuied from lack of sport and exercise, disappeared, until he was found a day or two ago.—[Philadelphia Press.