The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-06-03
Terrific Fight with a Rattle
NnnlLn.

tFroa the rooha Transcript MAJ isth1
We have hitherto supposed the day long
since passed for chronioling a BIG snake
fight in the vicinity of the Central City,
but such II appears is not the case, from
a scene which recently transpired within
n short drive from the Court House. Some
OF the older residents will remember a
building which formerly stood on Prospect
Hill, about six miles disthnt from Peoria,
and which was destroyed somo scven or
eight years since. During the past sea-
son another house was erected near tho
same location, aud all that has remained
az relics Of the old hotel, was partially
filled excavation for cellar, and two well
preserved brick cisterne, which had been
kept covered up, Last week, the propri-
etor of the place, while busy with his wife
in preparing their summer flower garden,
found himself in the want Of few bricks
for the edge Of the walks. Remembering
the ciaterns, he uncovered one Of them,
and finding il dry at the bottom, and only
about six feet In depth, he jumped In, and
commenced throwing out some of the bost
Ibrilks he could pick from the walls. II
seems, there was piece of plank with one
on partially imbodded in the earth that
somewhat incommodod him, so scizing it,
with some exertion he pulled it out and
thpw Il to tho top. What was his hor-
Irotand surprise, at the next moment, to
fin that he had unearthed an enormous
rattle snuke, and himself without a weOp-
onn his hand As the oistern was round,
a1 only about five feet in diameter, no
cold not jump out, and the snake brist-
lhik with anger and rattling defiance, was
reidy for battle. Ills screams brought his
wb 10 the scene, but she was no overcome
viii fipht that she became poworless TO
rohet any assistance. The snake, in the
mean tine, had commenced the fight
makingrepcated springs at him, but for
tunatel,he managed ON each occasion 70
hit him IN the head with his boot, without
receiviu q bite, the snake all the time
becomiu more defiant aud enraged. Dur.
ing the ihole scene, which lasted several
minutes,he man did not lose his presence
of mindbut watching his chance, made
several lantic efforts TO Jump boldly from
this seemingly pit Of destruction. AtthC
last trialhe fortunately grasped a brick
which gee way, with him, aud remained
in his had, as he again stood fronting his
missing eemy. After a few more kicks
and wbtcing his opportunity, he fired H.
making Iobably one of the best shots on
record, fc Il struck the snake on the head
and between the one sent and the wall,
he becsm "pretiy well used up sarpint. y
Weak an exhausted, our hero, by the as
sistancc his wife, was enabled TO climb
from the pit, but when once moro upon
the earth he tainted away, and II was
some time before he could be recovered
For seyeri succeeding days he was quite
unwell, oiing probably to the poisonous
eiiluvia inaled; while his desperate cxer'
cises in te encounter, rendered him ex'
ceodingly lame. The snake was after
wards tabn from the cistern, when Il wai
found to lcasure seven feet in length, anC
containedhirteen rattles! The latter have
been prerved, and are placed in Shoaif'i
Museum or exhibition.