Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-08-11
DEATH STRUGGLE WITH A SNAKE.
Young Man Attacks . RMttiesnake
10th are Killed In q Fight.

| ness of such scene as pray Goa may
never see again. | baheld combat be-
tween Young nan and rattesnake, in
which the former was bitten, and died in
ten minutes thereafter. The particulars Of
the terrible affair are as follows;
"On Friday last a young man named
| Graynor asked me to spend the night with
him and 90 coon hunting with him the
next morning, to which request | readily
sssepted. We started out about three
O'Clock a. M, and near day the dogs open
ed on q 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 nlake our way
through the bogs 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 low growth Of
oak bushes. Here We halted moment to
listen for the dogs.
eve had barely paused, when we were
startled by a loud, strange, rafting sound
issuing from beneath low, thick bush,
within few feet of us. Though / had
never heard the peculiar noise before,
knew instinctively that it was rattlesnake;
and / sprung back in terror, remarking,
'Graynor, let's leave here
"'Whst, S. said he, are you
efraidY
eyes, said /, I am afraid,
"'Well, $, he coolly remarked, 4
am going to kill the snake; it would be 8
pity to leave such fine fellow here, So,
here goes.
"While Graynor was speaking, caught
glimpse of the snake, which, as nearly as
I 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 circle, with his head drawn back
in terribly graceful curve, his small eyes
sparkling, his slender forked tongue
darling swiftly 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.
"For Gods sake, let's go, said /, shud-
dering at the terrible sight
Don't get scared said Graynor; 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 small stick about
yard long, and while speaking was draw
ing back the bushes from above the snake
SO as to get sight of him. He threw his
foot around over the bushes, and tramped
them down in such manner that the
monster was fairly exposed to view; but
| lust as he did so, and before he had time
! to strike, the snake made sudden spring
at him. and turned away my face IN hor-
ror. The next instant Graynor exclaimed,
! I've got him, by George
II 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 gna6hing his
teeth most turlousiy, and twisting and
writhing in huge folds around Graynors
arms. All of a sudden, in some unac-
countable manner, the snake freed his
| head, and quick as lightning plunged his
deadly fangs into Graynor's right cheek;
when, dropping on the ground, he g!ided q
few PAGES and again coiled himself up,
keeping his head erect and ringing his
fearful rattles. Graynor turned deadly
pale paused moment, and then with q
! little stick advanced toward the snake. As
| he did so the snake made a spring at him,
but Graynor struck him with the stick and
knocked him back.
| "A second time the snake sprang at him,
and he again knocked him off with stick;
| but before he could strike third blow, the
snake had made another wound in Gray
nor arm. This time Graynor again NAH.
aged to seize the monster by The neck; and
dropping the stick he drew forth his knife
with one hand, opened it with his teeth,
and then deliberately cut of the snakes
head. Blood spurted from the trunk, and
Graynor, still grasping the snake, whose
huge folds tapped and wrthed around him
turned towards me, staggered and fell. |
rushed up to him and asked him:
What. in the name Of God, can ! do
for your
50 Nothing, said he calmly. i am dy-
! ing. Tell them, good - and his features
became frightfully contorted his eyes roll
ed over as i starting from their sockets,
and his black, swollen tongue protruded
! from his mouth. Then be fxed his red
wild, staring. eyes upon me, aud heayed a
deep, piercing groan; q shlyer passed over
! his frame, and then all was still. | 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 through
The neighborhood, and in the course ottwo
hours, some twenty of the neighbors had
gathered. We proceeded to the place,
where found no difficulty in pointing out
the body.
"Good heavens what sight met our
view. The face and body had turned to
/ deep purple, and 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 construct
ed and with heavy hearts, we took our way
TO the residence OF his parents. | will not
attempt TO describe the heartrending scene
when they saw the body. Grief like theirs
cannot be portrayed"
No APOLOGY WANTED. Yesterday we'll
'o-do citizen was down town until late ID
! the evening, and the society of e number