National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-14

Msccaslns and Other spe-
cies-HInae serpents In Utah ms Thick
ms n Mans Bsdy-A Head Like a Ball.
doE-Fisht Between n Man and n Moe
rasin-snnke Chnrmer Bittea-DsubIc-
headers In Wisconsin and Kentucky
The Father Of All Snakes.
From the Doscret Nswal
On the 10Th Instant Mr.. Walker, his brother
Sylvester, and their cousin, John Coon, were
telling timber for Mr.. standishs mill, on the
right hand fork Of Coon's canon, about three
quarters Of mile from the point Of the noun
tain west from this city, on the high peak
south Of Black Rock.
Between 10 and IL O'Clock In the morning
a deer ran by where they were working, and
our informant snatched up q Shapes rife
and started In pursuit. When he had contin.
ued the chase for about q mile due north he
was startled by loud, shrill whistle and hiss,
which he at first thought might he signal
from al Indian. lie came toa halt and looked
about him, and heard the noise Of rocks rat
tling southeast from where he stood. He
turned, when to his horror he saw approach,
Ing him at very rapid rate serpent which
he judged was about ten inches through the
Aht Etptho utuu Wub Ehistu biA
feet from the ground, and his jaws were open
fifteen or eighteen inches wide, with large
fangs growing from both upper and lower
jaws. .H. OIL.
Walker was almost petrined with fear but
the hope Of saving his life made him start to
run. The serpent, however, was too quick
for him, and jumped at and knocked him
down, striking him on the left shoulder JUST
below the left shoulder blade, going over him
and down the mountain to the southwest for
n short distance, when he turned and pur-
sued Walker, who had risen and with . speed
inspired by the deadliest fear was making bis
way to the top Of the ridge. Unfortunately
diately he felt the weight Of his monstrous
pursuer gliding over his body. He gave him
self up for lost then, but 1t seems hard 10 tell
which was tho most frightened, the man or
the snake, for the latter did not secm dis
posed to run the risk Of contest, but after
gliding across the body OF tho prostrate man
he slid of ut tremendous rate toward the
ridge of the mountain and across II to the
cast side. .. POOP .I
Walker arose and watched his movements,
and says that after crossing to the cast side
the snake turned and rccrossed to the west
side and went down the mountains . few
yards, and then twined himself around q
mahogany tree, where he remained waving
his head to and fro, tapping his tall on the
rocks, and whistling and hisslng defiance.
That was the last lie saw Of him, for he
made his way back to his companions rs
quick as he could. They wanted to return
and hunt for the serpent, but the hero OF
the adventure was too weak from fright
and excitement to do so, but says they In
tend TO go on an expedition TO hunt that
snake In very short time.
The color Of the reptile was yellow, with q
black mark on each side Of his eyes. he had q
beard or fuxE around his mouth, and what ap-
pcarcd to our informant to be q crown
shaped mass on the top Of his head. The
latter was about six inches high, and varied
In color, being green, blue, white, yellow
and red. The head Of the creature was
about as large "a that Of full-grown bull.
dog, and In shape between that OF bulldog
and monkey. His body was covered With
hard scales, sir or eight inches long. Mr.
Walker says he has been used to mountain
life for years, and nevey was afraid Of any
thing, but nothing could persuade him to 80
alone again Into the right-hand fork ol
| Coons Canon.
| 4 DESPERATE fIGHT BETWEEN SOUTH CAR
| oLINA SAS AND A MoCcAsis.
| Correspondence OF the New York World
A most exciting battle took place q few
miles from this town q few days since, be-
tween wcll-to-do farmer and a snake de
scribcd by the gentleman as moccasin, per
haps Of the highland species. Tho gentleman
who Is well known to Inc, and Tor who's,
accuracy and truthfuhess can safely youcl
was returning home from town with bill
wife and child, In a buggy drawn by two spir
tied horses, when his horses stopped In evil
dent alright at the sight Of o monster snake
lying across the track some distance In from
Of them. Giving the reins to his wife, tn,
gentleman left the buggy, and selecting {
piece Of fence rail, advanced and struck thu
snake one blow, when the rail unfortunatel,
l.ls Al. l.S- No. IL
Immediately dashed ut him and ran at hin
fcrcely, untiL finding he was abou
to be ovcrtaken, the gentleman made fo
his buggy, which he hardly reached In time
the snake springing up with great fore
against the wheel a. he jumped In alongside
his wife. In q moment the gentleman had hi
buggy whip In hand, and with tho butt Of ]
had q desperate fight with the monster, which
continued Its determined efforts to effect 81
entrance Into the buggy. The horses becom
Ing uneasy, and his wife dreadfully alarmed
the lines relaxed and the team at once mad
squirt which carried the party hundre'
yards from the scene Of conflict Looking
back aud seeing that his enemy held the fell
and showed no disposition to run the gentle
man again left his buggy, and, procuring
stout and reliable club, returned and renewe'
the fight. As he advanced, and when With
! few feet, the snake sprang at him with dis
tended jaws, but a well directed blow laid hin
on tho ground, and he was soon dispatched.
The snake was Ave inches In diameter ant
nearly nine feet long, and although the do
days arc considered as infusing more thai
ordinary venom and malignlty Into the ser
pent tribe, yet this furnishes one of the very
few and most remarkable instances In TIL
section Of snake attacking and engaging II
persistent and continuous fight with MAJ
and showing no signs Of retreat but acting
on the offensive and fighting to the death.
SNAKE cHARMER BITTEN.
. From the Louisville Courier-J ournal)
GREEsuPspuRG, kr., August "A maj
named Henry, q native Of Greenup county
lately employed as q miner by the Bath Irol
Company OF Bath county, Ky. came nea
losing his life at Bath furnace last week o.
the reward Of his own folly. He had for
long time professed 20 possess the power Il
charm snakes and had frequently exhibitedt Il
the people at the furnace specimens Of III,
more harmless varieties, which he handlet
familiarly and appeared In some degree t.
On one occasion he appeared with llv,
rattlesnake, but It proved to have been dis
climax was reached on Monday evening
July 30, whom he came In from the mine
with large live rattlesnake In his hands
As the sequel proved, It's fangs had not beel
removed or It's venomous powers and hate
full disposition In any way subdued. A crow
OF furnace nhnus, Win mecnhnicb, managers
clerks and bookkeepers, soon gathered abou
him, really astonishcd at the hardwood o
the foolish man. The viper writhed ant
twisted in his grasp, and by It's hateful look
alarmed the more sensitive bystanders, VIII,
warned Henry of his danger and his folly
He only laughed at their admonitions, an,
held the reptile out In one hand, graspinI
the middle Of Its body, when 1t raised II
head, and, with sudden and frightful>blow
struck Its deadly fangs deep into the knee o
the self-deceiycd and unfortunate man. II
, mouth had opened more than two inches, IN,
Its fangs entered the mans knee that 70
apart and stuck fast, while the reptile force,
Its deadly venom into the wounds thus made
, The man, by repeated effort, tore the rep
tile from Its grasp, and then affected indif
ference. However, this lasted but moment
when he began to look wild and turn pale
/ and cried out that he was bitten, and pullinj
up his pants, exposed the wounds from whicl
the blood was freely flowing. Swelling an,
pain set In. Physicians were sent for, an,
| many remedies applied. The tradltiona
whisky was chiefly relied on, and Of this, !
would seem, about quart suficed. Ate
great suffering for three days and nights, tn
victim was apparently better, and hopes wen
entertained Of his ultimate recovery,
RATTLEsSAKEs IN MINNESOTA.
ST PAUL, August l.
Rattlesnakes arc more plenty this season il
some of the old-settled counties than ever be
fore. At Elba, on the line between Winon,