Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 October 1919 — ENDED WITH HONORS EVEN [ARTICLE]

ENDED WITH HONORS EVEN

Rattlesnake and Pet Cat Staged Battle Which Caused Death of Both Combatants. William Lessig, gateman at the Erie railroad crossing east of Ramapo, N. J„ tells a story of a battle he saw between a rattlesnake and a pet cat. It ended fatally for both. Mr. Lessig saw a rattler about four feet long going toward the river. He picked up a club and was about to start for It when, he declares, a cat leaped out ahead of hlm and aet upon the snake. The cat got a fine hold on the back of the rattler’s head. But the snake fought desperately and got In a sting which caused the cat to release Its hold and crawl away. In twenty minutes the cat’s body was swollen almost twice its size and the poison finally caused death. The snake had been se severely grounded it was unable to find cover and when a crow discovered It lying in the open field It was too weak-to offw resfcstanee and was soon swings Twg iir “the- Ytfr~as—the~ bird-made- off with it.