The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-11-04
A THRILLING ENCOUNTER.
What William BOWerSmith Got
For Intruding at a Private
Snake Fight.
From the Noun. vernon lohiol Rannar.

From the Mount Vernon (Ohio) Banner.
Mr.. William Bowersmith, farm
hand, while working in field near
where Owl creek empties into the
Mohican, 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 re-
pair some fences bordering on the
streams above referred to. Passing
over little bayou formed by the
back water of the recent freshet,
and over which large sycamore
had fallen, he came to a little un-
used piece of ground, deeply shaded
by buckeyes and the common larch,
and grown over by tall grass and
iron weeds. Mr.. b. repaired some
breaks in the fence and was turn
ing to go away. when his attention
was attracted by most peculiar
sounds, described as something
like the Kissing of geese, mingled
with dull thuds, like striking on an
old boat. Mr.. Bowersmith 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 smit
ten with a club. He approached
the spot cautiously, and by climb
ing upon stump close by his eyes
met a sight never to be forgotten.
Almost beneath his feet, locked in
deadly conflict, lay two immense
serpents, Kissing, writhing and twist
ing, while their crimson mouths
exuded blood aud froth. Their
eyes cleaned like rockets and pro-
truded from their heads like beads.
They would twine around each 9TH
er and lash the ground with their
tails and fssten their fangs into
each others necks and shake with
the ferocity of bulldogs. 1t soon
became apparent that one of, the
serpents was about exhausted, and,
while making a desperate charge
upon its opponent, 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, rails
ing his axe, advanced to dispatch
the victor. He had scarcely reach
ed the spot when, with the rapidity
of lightning, the remaining serpent
sprung upon him.. and in an instant
had so entwined itself about his
person that resistance was impossi-
BILE, and at each respiration the
snake drew his deadly coil closer
and closer. Mr.. B. sunk upon the
ground, his face pierced in several
places by the sharp fangs of the
reptile. How long he renamed in
this position he knows not, and in
all probability would not have been
alive to-day had not neighbor, who,
with a common grain-sickle in his
hand, aad who desired to see Mr..
Bowersmith upon some mportant
matter-followed him TO the spot
and found him as above narrated.
1t was but the work of a moment
for the neighbor to cut the body of
the serpent in twain with the sickle
and release the unfortunate man,
who was restored to consciousness
by the abundant application of cold
water and the imblbing o: little
spirits, which the neighbor had
with him. The serpents proved
to be two large reptiles of the spe-
cIes known as the black snake. AT
ter Strengthening them out the
smaller one measured 6 feet inches
from tip to tip, and the other s feet
2 inches, and was thought to be
some three inches in diame.er. Mr..
Bowersmith has now nearly recov-
cred, although his face is still swol-
len from the poisonous effects of
the serpent's fangs, and the shock
to his nervous system would have
proved fatal to less robust man.