The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-05
GREAT SNAKES,

Blind Mans sPeril-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 Orfendof,
a native of Wisconsin, and man named
John Depsy, 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 fishing rod and basket, the
wo started ON their way, Depuy havingt
oncluded to find Shohola Greek on theirc
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 rattling 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
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 comrs 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 sudden blow, killing it instant
ly. No sooner had he killed the snake
than Orfendof 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 aeshy part of his right leg, just
below the knee. As the snake was about
to strike second time, Depuy struck it
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 a
snake bite was an almost certain cure, he
secured some, and after repeated appi-
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 a
different course, and met with no further
mishap until they were about to ascend
a small ledge of rocks near a 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. 1t 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 tc
the fires in the woods, several cows and
number of sheep, while pasturing il
the woods, wandered into these dens ant
were bitten, one COW and three sheel
dying from the bites. The surrounding
neighborhood is quite thickly populated
and several persons have been bitter
within the past few years.