The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-09-14
A Fearful Fight and a Horrible
? ''''' Death.

A Fearful Fight and Horrible
'.'' Death.
On last Friday, says an exchange, n
young man named Graynor asked me
to spend the night with him and go
coon hunting the very soon the next
morning, to. which, requestI readily as
scented, We started ont about 3 o'clock
a. M, and near day the dogs opened on
a trial in the swamp of Bear Greek.
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 Dogs and tangled
brush and vines in the direction of tile
dogs, until we came to a'small space of
firm ground, which was covered with
low growth of oak bushes. Here we
halted for moment to listen for the
dogs. r r,.l r1 as. s-t .l est3
We had barely paused when we were
startled by a loud, strange, rafting
sound, issuing from beneath a low,
thick bush, within few feet of us.
Though l had never heard that
noise before, knew instinctively that
it WAS a rattlesnake, and sprank back
in terror, remarking, "Graynor, let's
leave here."9 81 gy. 'u;zs b uT.
"What, S." said he, fare you
afraidT' ..f4 II gsdH .5zaH
eyes," said I, ~ am afraidp sH
DWELL, S." he coolly remarked,
II am going to hill the snake; it would
be pity to leave such q fine fellow
here. So here goes,nsee ems ~
While Graynor was speaking, ]
caught glimpse Of the snake, which,
as nearly as could judge, appeared to
be about eight feet in length, and three
inches in diameter in his larger part
He was lying coiled up in perfect cir
cles, with his head drawn back in 3
terribly graceful curve, his small black
eyes sparkling, his slender, forkei
tongue darting swiftly back and forth
and his brown neck swollen with fata
wrath, while everand anon he twirlet
the warning rattles in the air with I
harsh, blood curdling sound.
"For Gods sake, let's CO." said ]
shuddering at the terrible sight. '-'i
"Don't get scared" said G., Gus
climb n tree, and he won't bite you. /
amt every day that fellow meet
with such fine, large snake as this
and it wouldn't do to lose him."
He had picked up small site
about yard long, and while speaking
was drawing back the bushes fror
above the snake, so as to get sight c
him. He threw his foot around owe
the bushes, and trampled them dow
in snch a manner that the monster wa
fairly exposed to view; but just as h
| did so, and before he had time to strik
the snake made sudden spring at him
and | turned away my face in horror
i The next instant Graynor exclaimed
'Tve got him, by George!"
turned to look, and with his RICH
hand he was grasping the snake by hi
) neck in such a manner that he cOnl
! not bite, while the monster was gnash
ing his teeth most furiously. an
twisting and writhing in huge folds o
: G's arms. All of q sudden in some III
accountable manner, the snake free
: his head, and quick as lighterfin
: plunged his deadly fangs into CPS rigt
cheek, when, dropping on the gronnt
he glided few pnces and again cole
himself up, keeping his head erect an
ringing his fearful rattles. G.. turne
! deadly pale, paused moment, an
. then with a little stick advanced tt
: tward the snake. AS he did so ii
. snake made spring at him, but
struck him with the stick and knocke
t him back. 81 7'9 a3 .t
g Ascend time tile snake sprang
: him, and he again knocked him {
y with the stick, but before 1he cou
c strike third blow, the snake h;
: made another spring, and inflicted a
other wound in Graynor's arm. I'll
time Graynor again managed to sci
= the monster by the neck, and, drop
ing the stick, he drew forth his kni
: with one hand, opened it with his tee
and then deliberately cut of the snak
head. Blood spirited from the trun
u and Graynor, still grasping the small
= whose huge folds tapped and with
around him, turned toward me, sta
= gered and fell. I rushed up to h
. . and asked him, "What in the name
. God, can do for YOUR
d "Nothing," said he, calmly, 81 |
n dying. Tell them good and
"a features became frightfully comfort,
= his eyes rolled over as if starting FIR,
IF their sockets, and his black, sw0l
+ tongue protruded from his mou