Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-05-27
Terrific Fight with a Rattle Snake.
[From the Peoria Transcript, May 18th.

IFrom the Peoria Transcript, May 18th.1
We have hitherto supposed the day long since
passed for chronicling a big snake fight in the
vicinity of the Central City. but such it APP
pears is not the case, from IL scene which re-
Gently transpired within Il short drive from the
Court House. Some of the older residents will
remember a building which formerly stood on
Prospect Hill, about six miles distant from
Peoria. and which was destroyed some seven
or eight years since. During the past season
another house was erected near the same To-
cation, and all that has remained as relics of
the old hotel. was Il partially filled excavation
for a cellar, and two well preserved brick els
terms, which had been kept covered up. Last
week the proprietor Of the place. while busy
with his wife in preparing their Summer flower
garden found himself in w~It Of d few bricks
for the edge of the walks. Remembering the
~ciStcrns. he uncovered one OF them, and finding
it dry at the bottom. and only about six feet
in depth, he jumped in, and commenced throw
ing out some of the best bricks he could pick
from The walls. ii scors. there was a piece of
Il plank with one end partially irIbcdlcd in the
earth that somewhat incommnd2d him. 50 sciz-
ing it, with some cXcrtion he pu...~d It out and
threw it to the top. What was his horror and
surprise, at the next moment, to find flat he
had unearthed an enormous rattle snake, and
himself without a weapon in his hand. As the
cistern was round, and only about five feet in
diameter, he could not imp out, and the snake
bristling with anger: and rafting defiance, was
ready for battle. His screams brought his
wife to the scene, but she was so overcome with
fright that she became poweriess to render any
assistance. The snake, in the mean time, had
commenced the fight, making repeated springs
at him, but fortunately he managed on each
occasion to hit him upon the head with his
boot, without receiving a bite, the snake all the
time becoming more defiant and cnraged.-
During the whole scene, which lasted several
minutes, the man did not lose his presence of
mind. but watching his chance, made several
frantic efforts to jump bodily from this seeming
pit Of destruction. At the last trial, he for
grasped a brick, which gave way with
him, and remaining in his hand. as he again
stood fronting his enemy. After a few more
and watching his opportunity, he fired it
probably one of the best shots on rec
ord, for it struck The snake on the head, and
between the one send and the wall. he became
. pretty well used up sarpent.' Weak and
eAhausleu, our nero ny the assistance OF MS
wife, was enabled to climb from the pit, but
once more upon the earth, he tainted
away, and it was some time before lie could
be recovered. For several succeeding DAYS he
was quite unvell, owing probably To tte
efiavia inhaled; while his desperate 4
rendered him exceedingly lame. The
make was afterwards taken from the @c,steru,
it was found to measure seven feet in \
and contained thirteen rattles. The
after have been preserved, and are placed :
Shoall" Museum for exhibition. '