The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-07-29
GREAT SNAKES.
"A Blind Mans PeriI-Destruction of Rattle
Snakes in the Woods of Pennsylvania.

Snakes in the Woods of Pennsylvania.
A correspondent of the New York Sun
at Shohola Station, Pa, sends that paper
the following big snake story
A blind man named Henry Orfendoff, |
native of Wisconsin, and a man named I
John Depuy, from the western part of /
the State of Ohio, got off an Ere train
at this place, and, crossing over into York |
State, stopped over night at Barryville.
On the following morning they recrossed |
the river into Pennsylvania, and started
for Shohola Falls, six miles, north
west, at or near which place
they had relatives residing. De-
puy is a great trout fisherman, and,
purchasing fishingrod and basket, the
two started on their way, Depuy having
concluded to find Shohola Creek on their
way up. Leaving Shohola, they walked
about mile, when they reached the
creek, and Depuy commenced fishing.
He fished for about three miles, meeting
with good success, when the two, COM
ing to an open spot on the right bank of
the stream, sat down to rest and lunch.
While lunching, Depuy had his atten-
lion directed to small ridge of rocks on
the opposite side of the creek, by PEE
culiar rafting noise. He was satisfied
that rattlesnake den was not far distant,
and calling his blind companions atten-
ton to the fact, Depuy forded the stream.
Reaching the opposite shore, he walked
a few rods up the hill, when suddenly
his attention was drawn to an old dried
limb, upon which lay coiled huge rattle
snake. He hallooed to his blind comra lie
-. L 1.
distance, and receiving an answer b re-
turned and assisted him across. the
stream. Together the two walk sd to
where Depuy had seen the snake, when
Orfendoff sat down. Seeing a large
stick, Deputy approached to within
reaching distance, when he dealt the
reptile a sudden blow, killing it instant
". No sooner had he killed the snake
than Orfendoff called to him, sying that
he felt something strange crawl over his
feet Depuy started to return to his COM
rade, when he observed huge rattle
snake not more than ten feet distant from
where the blind man sat, and another
three feet away, coiled and ready to
spring. Depuy struck at the furthest
snake, but missed it, the snake escaping
into the rocks. He requested Orfendoff
to remain perfectly quiet, while he ap-
preached to within reaching distance and
attacked the reptile. The snake drew
back his head in time to escape the blow.
Depuy again raised the stick, but before
he could bring it down the snake struck
the blind man, burying its fangs deep
into the fesby part Of his right leg, just
below the knee. AS the snake was about
~ Il
blow which killed it. He then exam
ined his companion. The blood was
oozing from the wound, and the limb
began to swell rapidly. Having heard
that fresh dirt Immediately applied to q
snake bite was an almost certain cure, he
secured some, and after repeated aprlii=
cations of this antidote the swelling be-
gan to disappear, and in about two hours
the leg was reduced almost to its natural
size, and theunf0rtunate man was able to
slowly resume his journey. They took
different course, and met with no fur ther
mishap until they were about to ascend
small ledge Of rocks near swamp.
Reaching the summit of the ledge,
Depuy again heard the deadly rattle, and
at the base of the hill he discovered many
poisonous reptiles coiled upon stones
and sticks The snakes were of various
sizes, from two and one-half to four and
one-half feet in length. He set to work
dispatching them, and in less than fif-
teen minutes he had killed forty nine,
the rest making their escape into the
rocks and underbrush. It was now get
ting dark, and having nearly three miles
to go, the two started on their way to the
falls, which place they reached without
any further adventures.
Four or five weeks ago, subsequent to
the fires in the woods, several COWS and
a number of sheep, while pasturing in
the woods, wandered into these dens and
we're bitten, one COW and three sheep
dying from the bites. The surrounding
neighborhood is quite thickly populated,
and several persons have been bitten
within the past few years.