The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-06-13
BATTLING With BIC SNAKES.
A Mans Encounter with Four Blaeksnskes and
Hard Earned Victory.

A Mans Encounter with Four Blacksnakes and
Hard Earned Victory.
MIDDIEfowN, N. ", June la short
time ago J. II. Pitts, a prominent citizen
of Monticello, was driving along cross
road near Bridgeville, and alighted from
his wagon TO kill large blacksnake that
he saw lying by the roadside. He
attacked II with his whip, and 1t re-
sented the assault so vigorously that
Pitts was obliged to take to his heels.
The snake pursued him for nearly n
quarter Of mile, when he sought to
escape II by olambering to the top Of a
large rock. The snake followed him,
but he succeeded in striking II a blow
with his whip that disabled the snake,
when he dispatched 1t.
Since then other blacksnakes Of enor-
nous size have been seen in this same
spot, and one day last week, as Thomas
Neil, Justice Of the Peace at Bridgeville,
was walking along the road he saw four
of the reptiles summing themselves on n
rock. lie carried heavy walking
stick, and, believing that he could kill
the snakes without difficulty, approached
them for that purpose. One OF the
serpents crawled away In the bushes,
but the others prepared to defend them
selves Squire Neil killed one Of them
by lucky blow, but before he could
strike either Of the others one of them
sprang at him. instantly coiling itself
about one of his legs and moving rap
idly upward toward his body. The re-
naming snake then crawled away up
the road and stopped short distance
OIL, as If to watch the result of the fight
The one that had attacked Neil reached
his waist before he could stay its move
ments, and then, by n lucky grasp, he
caught II with his left hand around the
neck. He put all his strength TO chok-
ing the serpent, and succeeded In COM
polling II to loosen its folds. Nell then
threw 1t to the ground and struck u,
dealing blow that evidently stunned IT,
lie had no time TO follow up his ad-
vantage. for the snake that had re-
treated up the road came gliding swiftly
back TO the aid of its companion. The
squire met 1t half way and as It came
toward him. with its head raised in the
air, he struck it with his cane, and
stretched 1t full length and apparently
lifeless in the road. The squire now
thought the battle over, but what was
his surprise to see another snake, prob
ably the one that had crawled away at
the beginning Of the attack, com
ing toward him from the bushes.
lie aimed blow at this one,
but IL avoided it, and with n
movement so quick that Neil had no
time to strike another blow, wrapped
itcelf around his arm, and glided toward
his neck. In desperation, Neil dropped
his stick. and made clutch at the snake
and caught il around the body, just be-
low the head. As in the case of the one
who had coiled about his leg. he forced
this one to uncoil itself by choking it
with all his might. Still holding II by
the neck he picked up his cane, and
pounded it on the head until ii was
dead. lie then turned his attention to
the other two, and was surprised TO see
that they had both regained conscious
ness, and were crawling slowly away.
lie followed them and killed them both.
Three of the snakes were of the blue racer
species, and were each six feet long.
The fourth one. which was the one he
killed first. was IA common black snake,
four feet long. The same day man
named Taylor killed blue-racer near
Germantown that was seven feet lorg-
the largest ever known in this region.