Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1859-06-11

Terrific Fight with q Rattlesnake.


Terrific Fight with O Rattlesnake.
We have hitherto supposed the day long
since passed for chroniclng big snake fight
ln the vicinity of the Central City, but such
1t appears is not the case, from 6 scene which
recently transpired within n short drive from
the Courthouse. Some of the older resi-.
dents VIII remember a building which for
merly stood on Prospect II II, about six miles
distant from Peorin, and which was DESTROYED
some seven or eight years since. During The
past season another house was erected. near
the same location, and all that has remained
as relics Of the old hotel was a partially filed
excavation Tor cellar, and two well preserved
brick clsterns which had been kept covered
up.
Last week the proprietor of the place,
while busy with his wife in preparing their
summer Hover garden, found himsef in the
want oil lew bricks for the edge of the
walks Remembering the cisterns, he uncov-
cred one of them, and finding it dry at the
bottom, and only about six feet in depth, he
Jumped in, and commenced throwing out
some of the best brick be could pick from
the walls. 1t seems there was piece of
plank with one end partially imbedded in the
earth that somewhat incommoded him. so
seizlng it, with some eXertiou lie pulled it out
and threw it to the top.
What was his horror and surprise, at The
next moment, to find that be had unearthed
40 enormous rattlesnake. and himself with
out weapon in his handl As the cistern
was round, and only about five feet in diane.
ter, he could not jump out, and the snake
bristllng with anger, and rattng defiance,
was ready for battle. His screams brought
his vile to the scene but she was SO ovcrl ONE
with fright that she became p0werless to
render any assistance. The snake, in the
meantime had commenced the fight making
repeated springs at him, but fortunately he
managed on each occasion to hit him upon
the head with bis boot, without receiving q
bite, the snake all the timc becoming more
defiant and enraged.
During the whole Scene, which lasted se4.
eral minutes, the man did not lose his pres.
ence of mind, but watching his chance made
several frantic efforts to jump bodily from
his seemingly pit Of destruction. At the
last trial, he fortunately grasped brick
which gave way with him, and remained in
his hand as he again stood fronting his his
sing enemy. After few more kicks, and
watching his opportunity, he fired it, making
probably one of the best shots on record
for i. struck the snake on the head and be
tween the one sent and the wall, he became
pretty well used up sarpint"
Weak and exhausted, our hero, by the as
sistance Of his wife, was enabled to clint
from the pit, but when once more upon the
earth he faisted away, and it was some time
before he recovered. For several succeeding
days be was quite unwell, owing probably to
the poisonous effluvia inhaled, while his des-
perate exercises in the encounter rendered
him exceedingly lame, The snake was af-
terwards taken from the cstern, when it was
found 10 measure seven feet in length, and
contained thirteen rattles The latter have
been preserved, and are placed IN Shoafi'.
Museum for exhibition.