The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-08-20
Meath struggle Win a snake.


paper writes:
"Last Saturday morning was the
witness of such scene as pray God
may never see again. 1 boheld combat
between young man and a arattlesnake,
in which the former was bitten and died
in ten minutes thereafter. The particu-
lafs of the terrible affair are as fol-
lows:
"On Friday last young man named
Graynor asked me to spend the flight
with him and go coon-hunting with him
the next morning, to which request 1
readily assetited. We started out about
three o'clock A. NJ, and near day the
dogs opened on trail in the swamp of
Bear Creek. Just after sunrise the deep
baying of the dogs informed us that the
game had taken tree. We proceeded to
make our way through the bogs and
tangled brush ana vihea iii the direction
of the dogs; until we came to a small
space of firm ground; Which was cover
ell with a low growth of oak bushes
Here we halted moment to listen for
the dogs.
"we had barely paused; When we
were startled by loud, strange, rat
tling sound ihsuing from beneath low,
thick bush, within a few feet of U.S.
Though had never heard the peculiar
noise before, knew ihstinctively that it
was rattlesnake; and l sprang back in
terror; remarking:
"Graynor, let's leave herep"
"What, S. said he' ARE you
afraidf'b
"'Yes,' said 1, Il am afraid"
"'Well, S. he coolly remarked,
Il am going to kill the snake; it would
be a pity to leave stch d fine follow
here. So, here goes"
"While Graynor was speaking 1
caught glimpse of the snake, which, as
nearly as 1 could judge, appeared to be
about eight feet ia length, and three
inches in diameter in his larger part
He was lying coiled up in perfect cir
Gle, with his head drawn back in terri
bly, graceful curve, his small eyes spark
ling, his Slender forked tongue datting
quickly back and forth, and his brown
neck swollen with fatal wrath, while
ever and anon he twirled the warning
rattles in the air, with harsh, blood
curdling sound.
''1rnrs Gods sake. let's GO; said !;
shuddering at the terrible signt.
"Don't get scared said Graynor; Just
climb tree he won't bite you: 1t aint
every day that a fellow meets with such
afine large snake as this, and it would'n mt
do to lose him."
"He had picked up small stick about
yard long, and vile speaking was
drawing back the bushes from above the
snake so as TO get a sight at him. He
threw his foot around over the bushes,
and tramp them down in sttch a matier
that the monster was fairly exposed to
view; but just as he did so, and before
he had time to strike, the snake made
sudden spring at him, and turned away
my hce in horror. fhe next instant
Graytiot e2tldime d: "I've got him, by
Goorger'
''I turned to look, and With bis fight
hand he was graspihg the snake by the
neck in such a manner that he could
not bite, while tile nionster was gnash-
ing his teeth most furiously; and twist
ing and wtithing iii huge folds afound
Graynor's arms. All of a sudden; in
some snaccountable Hammer, the snake
freed his head, and quick as lighting
plhnged his deadly fraugsihto Graytior's
right cheek; when, drepping on the
ground lie glided o few Spades and again
toi1ed hithself DIP, keeping his head erect
and ringing his fearful rattles: Graynor
turned deadly pale, Patised u eement,
and then With little stick advanced to-
ward the snake. AS he did so the snake
fhade spring at him, but Graynor
struck him with the stick and knocked
him bHck. A second time the snake
spfahg at him; and he again knocked
him off with a stick, but before he could
strike third blow the snake had made
another wound in Grrynor's arm. This
time Graynor managed to sieze the mon
ster by the neck, and dropping The stick,
he drew forth his knife with one hand,
opened it with his teeth, and deliberate
ly cut off the snakes head. Blood spurt.
ed from the trunk, and Graynor, still
grasping the snake, whose huge folds
tapped and writhed around him, turned
towards me, staggered and fell. rush
ed up to him and asked him:
"'What, in the name of God, can do
for your"
Nothing said he calmly. Il am
dying. Tell them, good and his
features became frightfully contorted,
his eyes rolled over as il statting from
their sockets, and his black swollen
tongne protruded from his mouth. Then
he fixed his red, wild, staring eyes upon
me. heaved deep, piercing groan; a
shiver passed over his frame, and tlen
all was still. I was alone with the dead.
"Mlarkihg the place as we'll as could,
hastened to house we had passed on
the road, some half ffii.e distant from
the f4tal tragedy. Runners were sent
through the neighborhood, and in the
couIss of two hours some twenty of the
neighbors had gathered. We proceeded
to the place, which l found NO difficulty
in poihting out.
Good heavensi what sight met our
view! The face and body had turned to
deep purple, and swollen to three times
the natural size. presenting the most
her ible appearance l had ever wit
messed. The snake lay where he had
been thrown, and was still writhIng.
"a litter ct boughs was hastily CON
OF tN.ff "A baa hoe