The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-08-11
Che Tribune.
WITH SUPPLEMENT.
A Fearful Fight and a Horrible DEATH


From the Eufaa (Ala-) Ne,Cs.
Mr.. EDITOR: Last Saturday morning
| was the witness of such scene as
pray God [ may never see again. L be
held combat between young man ant
rattlesnake. in which the former wa
bitten and died within ten minutes there
after. The particulars of the terrible at
fair are as follows.
On Friday last young man nance
Graynor asked me to spend the night
with him and 90 coon hunting the next
morning, to which request readily as
scented. We started out about three
O'Clock a. H., and near day the dogs
opened on trail in the swamp OF Bear
creek. just after sunrise the deep bay
ing of the dogs informed US that the
game had taken tree We proceeded
to make our way through the boys and
tangled brush and vines in the direction
of the dogs, until We came to a small
space of firm ground, which was covered
with a low growth of oak bushes. Here
we halted for "a moment to listen for the
dogs
We had barely paused when we we're
startled by loud, strange, rafting sound
issuing from beneath low. thick bush,
within few feet of u.s. Though I had
never heard that peculiar noise before, [
knew instinctively that it was rattle
snake. and sprang back in terror, remark
ing, "Graynor. let's leave here.
What, s." said he, 'are you
afraid ?' aa-
Eyes, = said I, IT am afraid" ~
well, S. he coolly remarked
Il am going to kill the snake; it would
be pity to leave such fine fellow here.
So here goes.
While Graynor was speaking, caught
a glimpse Of the isnake, 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 ly-
ing coiled up in perfect circles, with his
head drawn back in terribly graceful
curve, his small black eyes sparkling, his
slender forked tongue darting swiftly back
and forth, and his brown neck swollen
with fatal wrath, while ever and anon he
twlrled the warning rattles in the air,
with harsh, blood-curdling sound.
For Cod sake, let's co." said |
shndderlng at the terrible sight.
Don't get scared" said G.; "just
climb tree and he won't bite you. 1t
amt every day that fellow meets with
such fine large snake as this, and it
wouldn't do to lose him."
He had picked up a small stick about
a yard long, and, while speaking, was
drawing back the bushes from above the
snake so as 20 get sight of him. He
threw his foot around over the bushes,
and trampled them down in such a man
ner that the monster was fairly exposed
to view but just as he did so. ana before
he had time to strike, the snake made
sudden spring at him, and | turned away
my face in horror. The next instant,
Graynor exclaimed, I've got him, by
George -
| turned to look, and with his right
hand: he was grasping the snake. by the
neck IN such manner that he could not
bite, while the monster was crashing his
teeth most furiously, and twisting and
writing in huge folds around G. s arms.
All of a Sudden, in some unaccountabe
manner, the snake freed his head, and
quick as lightning plunged his deadly
fangs into G. S right cheek; when, drop
ping on the ground. he glled few
PAGES and again coilei himself up, keep
ing his head erect and ringing his fearful
rattles. g. turned deadly pale, paused
a moment, and then with little stick adj
vanced toward the snake. As he did so
the snake made spring at him, but q.
struck him with the stick and knocked
him back
\ second time the snake sprang at
him and he again knocked him off with
the stick, but before he could strike
third blow, the snake had made another
spring, and inflicted another wound in
Graynor's arm. This time Graynor
again mana ged to seize the monste by the
neck, and, dropping the stick, he drew
forth his knife with one band, opened it
with his teeth, and then deliberately cut
off the snakes head. Blood spurted
from the trunk, and Graynor, still grasp
ing the snake whose huge folds tapped
and writhed around him, turned toward
me, staggered, and fell | rushed up to
him, and asked him, "Whatin the name
of God, can | do for vou?'
Nothing said he, calmly, Il am
dying. Tell them good--' and his
features became frightfully contorted, his
eyes rolled over as if starting from their
sockets, and his black, swollen tongue
protruded from his mouth. Then he
fixed his red, wild, staring eyes upon me
and heaved deep piercing groan;
shiver passed over his frame and then all
was still. I was alone with the dead.
Marking the place as well as | could. |
fastened to house we had passed on the
road, some half mile distant from the
fatal tragedy. Runners were sent thro
the neighborhood, and in the course OF
two hours some twenty of the nelghbors
had gathered. We proceeded to the
place. which | found no difficulty In
pointing out
Good heavens what sight met our
view. The face and body had turned
to a deep purple, aud were swollen to
three times the natural size, presenting
the most horrible appearance [ had ever
witnessed. The snake lay where he had
been thrown, and was still writing.
A litter of boughs was hastily construc-
ted. and with heavy hearts we took our our
way to the residence of his parents. VII,
not attempt to describe the heart-rending
ccaua Uhau thav caw tho hbdy Grief