Rabid Coyotes Terrorize Richland Farmers

The coyotes in the vicinity of Fruitvale are becoming extremely bold, as is evidenced by the fact that one of them came into the very back door of the Hutton ranch last week and killed four fine chickens and a big turkey in broad daylight. Mrs. Hutton, hearing the racket, ran out and attempted to chase the beast away, but it started for her. On her taking to the house, it went into the barn and started biting the horses. Mrs. Hutton managed to get the barn door shut on it, and luckily B. T. Simmons happened along and, armed with a piece of lead pipe, opened the barn door to kill the coyote. One of the horses gave it such a kick that it landed clear outside the barn, and Mr. Simmons speedily ended its life with his gas pipe. The head was removed and sent to Pullman college for analysis. Many people are of the opinion that the beast was mad, and it may be that it was this very coyote which bit the dog that has been causing so much trouble around town. A dog has also been running amuck through the streets of the town and surrounding country district, biting and snapping at every other dog it encountered. J. D. McCarthy and Bud Jameson tracked the dog to the John Erickson ranch where Mr. McCarthy shot it. Every man and woman in the district should be on the lookout for any peculiar actions on the part of dogs; rabies develops in from 14 to 60 days and everyone should be alert to ensure no epidemic of this awful scourge breaks out in our town.