The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-30
GREAT SNAKES.
A Blind Mans PeriI-Destruction Of Rattle
Snakes In the Woods of Pennsylvania.

A Blind Mans PeriI-Destruction OF Rattle
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 man named
John Depuy, from the western part of
the State of Ohio, got off an Ele 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 great trout fisherman, and,
purchasing a fishing rod and basket, the
two started on their way, Depuy having
concluded to find Shohola Greek 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-
ton directed to small ridge of rocks on
the opposite side of the creek, by pc
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
to ascertain whether he was in hea ing
distance, and receiving an answer b , re-
turned and assisted him across the
stream. Together the two WALL I'd to
where Depuy had seen the snake, when
Orfendoff sat down. Seeing a large
stick, Depuy approached to within
reaching distance, when he dealt the
reptile a sudden blow, killing it instant
ly. 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 Orfendotf
to remain perfectly quiet, while he APP
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 tieshy part of his right leg, just
below the knee. AS the snake was about |,
to strike a second time, Depuy struck it /,
a 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
snake-bite was an almost certain cure, he |
secured some, and after repeated appli- |
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 the unfortunate man was able to |
slowly resume his journey. They took |
different course, and met with no further
mishap until they were about to ascend !
a small ledge of rocks near swamp.
Reaching the summit of the ledge,
Depuy again heard the deadly rattle, and
1t the base OF the hill he discovered many
poisonous reptiles coiled upon stones
md sticks. The snakes We're of various
,izes, from two and one-half to four and
one-half feet in length. He set to work
them, and in less than fif-
cen minutes he had killed forty-nine,
he rest making their escape into the
'ocks and underbrush. 1t was now get
in 1ork an1 hoxy,,,c, IL,
o go, the two started on their way to the
alls, which place they reached without
NY further adventures.
-Four or five weeks ago, subsequent to
he fires in the woods, several cows and
number of sheep, while pasturing in
he woods, wandered into these dens and
we're bitten, one COW and three sheep
ying from the bites. The surrounding
eighborhood is quite thickly populated,
nd several persons have been bitten