The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-04-14
AAVASIE Ill., SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. APRIL a. 1851
Rugged BY a Snake.

was brought up near the Canada
line in Vermont where my father owned
large farm. Not far from his farm was
a lake, where we used to enjoy ourselves
fishing and sailing. Ono afternoon saw
a flock OF black ducks fly over the house,
and l was sure they lighted on the lake !;
so seized my .barrelled gun and
AMMUNITION, and started off after them.
Having approached within shooting dis.
tance, the ducks arose, and fired bringing
two down in the tall grass near the cove.
AS ran TO take up the duck, I saw tho
head Of black snake pop out and catch
1t by the wing. l only saw the head aud
neck OF the reptile, and had no iiea how
large it was; and II had, probably |
should have done just as did, for had
no lear OF such a creature, SO I Just ran
up and snatched the bird away. had
ieit my gun in the boat, and had nothing
to Kill The chap with but as took the
duck, / put my foot on the thiers neck.
The ground was moist and Shiny, and
as the snake had his body braced among
the roots OF the stout reeds, he took his
head out from under my foot about as
quick as man could comfortably think.
thought I'd run back to the boa, and
get my gun, and try to kill this fellow
| felt something strike my leg as though
some one had thrown a rope around it,
| looked down, and found that the snake
had taken turn around my left leg with
h's tail, and was in the act Of clearing his
body from the grass. dropped the duck
and gave a smart kick bu. it didn't
loosen him; so I tried to put my righ,
foot on him and thus draw my left leo
away; but | might as we'll have tried to
put my foot on q streak Of Lightning
l had forgotten the proportionate size
Of the head Of this species Of black suaks.
had expected to see snake four or Eve
feet long, but instead Of that, lie was
nearly eight and half feet Still /
hadn't any great fear,for supposed when
should come to put my hand on him, /
could easily take him of, for was pre,.
ty strong in the arms. In few seconds
he had his BODY all clear, and it was then
shat the first real thrill shot through me.
There he held himself by the simple turn
around MY leg, and, with hs back arch.
ed in and out he brought his head on a
level with mine. l made grab for him,
but missed him and then as quick as
you can snap your finger, he swept bis
head around under my arm, clear around
my body, and then looked me in the face
again. l made another grab at him, and
another az quick "a could; but lie dod-
ged me In spite Of all that could do.
next felt ,be anake's body working
its way up. The turn Of the tai, around
my leg was changed to my thigh, and the
coil around my stomach began to tighten.
About this time ! began to think that
thero might be some serious work, and
that tue sooner ] could take off the snake,
the better. So i just grasped him as near
the head cs possible, by taking hold
where he was around me---lor he couldn't
dodge that part you know-and tried to
turn him of. But this only mace him
worse Tue fellow had now drawn bin.
self so, that he whipped another turn
around me. His tail was under my left
high, and the rest OF him twice around
my body-one Of the coils beiug Just at
the pit Of my stomach, and the other
just above il. All this lad occupied just
about half minute from the time he
first got the turn around my leg.
His head was now right around 10
front Of my face, and lie tried TO make
his way to my mouth What his inten-
ton was | cannot surely tell, though
have always believed that he thought he
could strangle me in that way. BE struck
me one blow in the mouth that urt me
considerably and after that got him
by the neck, and there I mean. to hold
him at least so he should not strike me
again. The moment grasped him by
the neck, he commenced to tighten his
folds about my body! soon discovered
he'd soon squeeze the breath out Of me
in that way, and determined to unwind
him.
now tried TO unwind the reptile |; but
with all my strength it was in vain.
Until this movement I had not really
been frightened. had believed | could
unwind the serpent when should try
/ never dreamed what power he had.
tried it until ] knew I could not do it,
and then gave il up. My next thought
was Of my jack knife; but the lower coil
OF the snake was directly over my pock-
ct and ] could not get it. now for the
first tune cried out for help. yelled with
all my might {; and knew the Trial was
next TO useless, for no one could easily
gain the place where was, except with
a boat. Yet ] called out, hoping against
hope Igasped the snake by the body
and pulled; l tried TO break its neck. -
This plan presented CLEAN Of promise,
but amounted to nothing. I might as
well have tried TO break rope by bend.
Jog it backward and forward.
A fall minute had now passed from
the time when / tried to pass the snakes
head around my back. His body had
become 10 elongated by his gradual pres.
sure around my body, that he had room
to carry his head around In free and
symetrical curve. He had slipped from
my grasp. and when next caught him,
| found that was weaker than before,