The Policeman And The Muskrat

It is not often that a newspaper ;an relate a deadly combat between a, policeman and a muskrat. Last Sunday night at a late hour, Patrolman Tice was making his rounds on Main Street keeping his ears open for possible burglars and his eyes peeled for signs of incipient fires, when he came upon a huge muskrat in front of Koch & Henne's store. The rat was one of the largest ever seen in these parts. He was very ferocious and did not even wait for the patrolman to begin the combat, but seized him by the leg, tearing a great rent through his trousers and underclothing. The policeman's club was found too short for effective use, and Tice beat anorderly retreat to secure a scantling which was one side of the store. When he returned his ratship was waiting to renew hostilities, but it was soon killed by the vigorous blows rained upon it. The rat measured two feet from the tip of his tail to the end of his nose. The Argus reporter sawit measured and gives the exact measurement. Driver Carroll of the engine house, who skinned him, reports that every bone in his body had been broken. How the muskrat came on Main street is a mystery.