Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-16
Fighting a serpent in a Shaft.

Atithis time Of the year dangerous
reptiles are most frequently seen in
New Mexico, and are most aggressive.
Last Tuesday evening two prospectorsl
came into Soccorro who relate a
strange experience they had with a
ratt!esnake the week before. The par
ticulsrs are downright "snaky," and
but for the reputation these men bear
for veracity we would not publish
them. In prospecting about fifteen
miles east OF La Joya they found cop.
per float, and separated to trace it to
the lead. One of them Ed. Bennett,
on reaching a small hill discovered an
old shaft. He fred shot to notify
his partner, and began explorations.
The shaft looked to be about forty
feet deep, and about thirty feet distant
there was an incline connecting with
it. He prepared to discend by this.
When nearly at the bottom the loose
wash gave way and he was precipita-
ted downward. He shouted out to
his partner, and was preparing to look
around, when to his horror he discov-
cred that his descent had stirred up q
rattlesnake. The blood -cnrdling warn
ing was rafting horribly in the silent
hole, and caused cold sweat to ooze
from the prospector's forehead. The
glistening eyes Of, the reptile shone
upon him in the gloom, but he was toe
unused to the place to distinguish fur.
ther. y He retreated to a corner, and
as the shaft was a large one-about
eight feet square-he had time tt
seize a rock and prepare himself. The
serpent followed, and springing at hin
struck its fangs into the top of hi
large prospecting boots, and coilet
about his legs. At this time he coult
see his surroundings, and with % .des-
peratiou equal to the occasion, and be
fore the reptile had time to Withdraw
its fangs, he grasped its q scaly necl
and closed his hand with a yice.lik'
grasp. Then ensued a contest be
tween man and reptile, desperation ant
fury. . gaF .rygr =.
The huge serpent alternately tight
ened its coil about its enemy's leg tt!
the blood ceased to circulate, ant
shook itself in vain endeavor to wrig
gle from the iron grasp. Its horrit
rattle denoted its furious struggles
The prospector heard the. Kisses, .coult
see the bright greenish eyes flashing
fire, and feel the wriggling of tn
scales as he held the snake, but wheth
or standing or thrown to The groun'
or lashed by the tail of his aggressol
he held his grip. He would occasion
ally yell in the hope of reaching tn
ears of his partner. For at least
quarter Of an hour the struggle con
tinued, the prospector the while grow
ing weaker, keeping the fangs fror
his body, but feeling that his enem
was slowly choking to death. Il
lashing became slow, it writhed les'
and finally, after one last struggle wa
dead.
The prospestor continued his yell
until his partner came, being too wea
to rise. After some trouble he we
raised to the surface, still graspin
the serpent with his widely y-distende
mouth and protruding fangs. 1t WI
a long time before he could renew ci
culation in his leg, and he is limpin
vet The anake measured twelve fe'
and had eighteen rattles. The mil
was christened the Serpent's Lair, nj
liar. All this happened on May II,
If.3 .. m.--Soccorro IN. M. Sun.