Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-08-03
A FEARFUL FIGHT AND A HORRI.
BILE DEATH,
From the Eun1a lA1nl Nsws

I ing was the witness Of such n scene
/ as l pray God may never see again.
l beheld a combat between a young
man and rattlesnake, in which the
former was bitten and died in ter
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
the next morning, to which request
l readily assented. We started out
about three o'clock, A. NJ, and near
day the dogs opened on trail in the
swamp of Bear creek. Just afteI
sunrise the deep baying Of the dogs
informed US that the game had taken
tree. We proceeded to make OuI
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 COW
cred with low growth of oak bushes.
We had barely paused when we
were startled by a loud, strange, rat
Ting sound issuing from beneath a
low, thick bush, within a few feet of
US. Though had never heard that
peculiar noise before, 1 kTew instinc-
lively that it was a rattlesnake, and
sprang back in terror, remarking,
"GraynOr, let's leave here"
q" What, s." said he, are you
afraid ?n
a" Yes" said ], I am afraid"
Well, s." he cOOlIy remarked,
" am going to kill that snake; It
would be pity to leave such a fine
fellow here. So here goes"
While GraynOr was speaking, I
caught glimpse Of the snake, which,
as nearly as 1 can judge, appeared to
be about eight feet in length, and
three inches in diameter in the larger
part. He was lying cOiled up in per-
feet circles, with his head drawn back
in a terribly graceful curve, his small
black eyes sparkling, his slender,
fOrked tongue darting swiftly back
and forth, and his brown neck swOl-
len with fatal wrath, while ever and
anon he twirled the warning rat
ties in the air, with a harsh, blood
sound.
For Gods sake, let's CO." said 1,
at the sight.
"DOn't get scared, said G.; "just
climb a tree and he-wont bite you.
1t amt every day that a fellow meets
with such q fine, large snake as this,
and it won't do lose him."
He had picked up a small stick
about a yard long, and. while speak
ing, was drawing back the bushes
from above the snake so as to get
sight of him. He threw his foot
around over the bulhes, and tramped
them down in such a manner that
the monster was fairly exposed to
view; but just as he did so, and
before he had time to strike, the
snake made a sudden spring at him,
and I 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 a manner that he
could not bite, while the monster was
ynashing his teeth most furiOusly,
and twisting and writhing his huge
'olds around G.'s arms. All Of a sud-
len, in some unaccOuntable manner,
he snake freed his head, and quick
Is lightning plunged his deadly fangs
nto G.'s right cheek when, drop
ping on the ground, he glided a few
PAGES and again eOiled himself up,
keeping his head erect and ringing
his fearful rattles. G.. turned deadly
lale, paused a moment, and then
With a little stick advanced toward
he snake. As he did so the snake
made n spring at him, but G. struck
him with a stick and knocked him
pack.
A second time the snake sprang at /
him, and he again knocked him OFF
With the stick, but before he could /.
trike a third blow, the snake had |
made another spring and inflicted .
mother wound in GrayoOr's arm. I
This time GraynOr again managed to /
eize the monster by the neck, and I
lropping the stick, he drew forth his |
,nife with one hand, opened it with /
lis teeth, and then deliberately cut |
# the snakes head. Blood spurted
rom the trunk, and G.. still grasping
he snake, whose huge folds tapped
nd writhed around him, turned
oward me, staggered and fell. L
ushed up to him and asked him,
What, in the name of God, can I
% for you? ,"
Nothing" said he calmly, al am
ying. Tell them good -" and
is features became frightfully con-
Orted, his eyes rolled over as if
-arting from their sockets, and his
lack, swollen tongue prOtruded from
is mouth. Then he fixed his red, |
.aring eyes upon me and heaved a
eep, piercing grOan a shiver passed
YER his frame, and then all was still.
was alone with the dead.
Marking the place as well as /
luld, 1 hastened to a house we had
assed On the road, some half a mile
istant from the scene Of the fatal I
agedy. Runners were sent through |
le neighbOrhOOd, and in the course
two hours some twenty of the
eighbOrs had gathered. We pro-
.eded to the place, which 1 found ,,
o difficulty in pointing out.
Good heavens! what a sight met !
II view. The face and body had !
Irned to a deep purple, and were
yOllen to three times their natural /
ze, presenting the most horrible I,
)pearance I had ever witnessed. ,
he snake lay where he had been !
rOwn, and was still writhing.
\ litter Of bOughs was hastily con- :
ructed, and with heavy hearts we J
ok our way to the residence of his !
rents. 1 will not attempt to de- =
ribe the heart-rending scene when :
ey saw the body. Grief like theirs i
mot be portrayed.
This was my first encO unter with a (,
and pray God it may be :