The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-09-03
A Mans Fight with a Snake.

Mr.. William Bowersmith, a farm hand,
while working in field near where Owl
creek erupties into the Mdhican. met with
an encounter a few days ago that seldom
falls to the lot of man. Mr.. Bowersmith
had taken an AK in his hand to repair
some fences bordering on the streams re-
ferred to. Passing over'a little bayou
formed by the back water in the recent
frCshet, and over which a large sycamore
had fallen, he came to a little unused
piece of ground, deeply shaded by buck
eyes and the common larch, and grown
over by tall grass and n-wCeds. Mr.. b.
repaired some breaks in the fence and
was turning to go away, when his atten-
tion was attracted by most peculiar
sounds, described as something like the
kissing of geese, mingled with dull thuds,
like striking on an old boot. Mr.. Bower
smith turned his eyes in the direction of
the sounds and saw the grass and weeds
were in violent motion and leveled to the
earth, as though smitten with a club. He.
approached the spot cautiously, and by
climbing upon stump close by his eyes
met n sight never to be forgotten. AL
most beneath his feet, locked in deadly
conflict lay two immense serpents, hiss
ing, writhing and twisting, while their
crimson mouths eXuded blood and froth.
Their eyes cleaned like rockets and pro-
truded from their heads like beads. They
would twine around one another and lash
the ground with their tails, and, fastening
their fangs into each others neck, would
shake with the ferocity of bulldogs. 1t
soon became apparent that one of the SER
pents was about exhausted, and, while
making a desperate charge upon its OPP
pOnent, the other seized it near the under
part of the throat and settled down upon
the ground, where they lay writhing for
several minutes At last everything be-
came quiet, and Mr.. Bowersmith crept
from his position, and, raising his axe,
advanced to dispatch the victor. He had
scarcely reached the spot when, with the
rapidity OF lightning, the remaining SER
pent sprang upon him, and in an instant
had so entwined itself about his person
that resistance was impossible, and at
each respiration the snake drew his dead
ly coil closer and closer. Mr.. b. sank
upon the ground, his face pierced in sew
eral places by the sharp fangs of the rep
tile. How long he remained in this pO-
sition he knows not, and in all probabil-
ity would not have been alive to-day had
not Il neighbor-whO, with a common
grain sickle in his hand, and who desired
to see Mr.. Bowersmith upon some inn
portant matter-follOwed him to the spot
and found him as above narrated. 1t was
but the work of moment for the neigh
Dor to cut the body of the serpent in
twain and release the unfortunate man,
who was restored to consciousness by the
abundant application of water and the
imbibing of little spirits which the
neighbor had in his possession. The SER
pents proved to be two large reptiles of
the species known rs the black snake
After Strengthening them out the smaller
one measured six feet four inches from
tip to tip, and the other eight feet two
inches. and was thought to be some three
inches i'm diameter. Mr.. Bowersmith has
now nearly recovered, although his face
is still swollen from the poisonous effects
of the serpent's fangs, and the shock to
his nervous system would have proved
fatal to a less robust man.--sW. VerH0H
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