Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-23
Enormous RattleSnakes
AN ENCOUNTER WITH SWITCHBACK
TRAIN AND THE SERPENTS VANQUISHED.

Probably the largest and oldest pair of
rattlesnakes ever killed in Pennsylvania
was killed near Mauch Chunk, on the
Switchback railroad, on Tuesday last, by
Mr. John Bosche one of the employees of
the Mumford Brothers, lessees of the
Swtchback. On the up trip in the after
noon, as the car was nearing the Mosque
honing Path, Bosche saw on the track
ahead of the swiftly moving train two
enormous snakes, partly coied, lying be-
tween the rails and seemingly engaged in
play. AS the car neared them the two
reptiles started down the track ahead of
it, Bosche let off the brakes and the car
shot ahead and was overtaking the snakes
when one of them began to grow tired
and to fall behind the other, unable to
keep up the rate at which they were rur-
ming. The stronger one deliberately
seized the other one by the neck with his
Jaws. and with sudden vigorous bound
attempted to spring outside the rails with
it. The first one cleared the rail, but the
wheels passed over the second one and
cut it into several pieces. The unframed
one coiled itself and sprang at the car.
which was now nearly stopped. and its
tangs with sharp click entered the tim
Der and held the wriggling monster fast.
The car ran few yards further dragging
the captive snake, which ratified horribly
and threw its body first upon the car and
then to the ground. The fangs broke off
and the reptile dropped down and struck
an attitude for fight just as the car stopped
and Bosche and Mr.. Mumford sprang to
the ground. The snake sprang at Bosche
repeatedly, but he was not afraid of it, as
he could plainly see that that the fangs
were broken off and Embedded in the wood
of the car.
little diminishing with a cobbe-stone
settled the fate of the snake. Bosche
measured his body and found it to be six
feet and nine inches long. There were
sixteen rattles of the tail. but several had
evidently been broken off, so that count
ing one rattle for each year. and adding
the year required for the formation of the
first rattle, the monster must have reached
the age of at least twenty years. an age
cording to the traditions and wood lore of
the old trappers hereabouts.
| Bosche went back and picked up the
pieces of the one cut by the wheels.
when placed together the snake was
/ nearly rs lou1 dS lut uISl one. IL was Il
male and female. These snakes always
mate and stay mated during their lives.
1t was intended to stuff the skin of the
whole one and send it to the Smithsonian
| Institute. but the skin was found to be
! broken so badly as to render 1t onlya poor
specimen, and the carcasses were given to
an old backwoods who tried OUT
the grease and bottled it, intending to use
it as a medicine in certain cases. The
combined weight of the two snakes was
about nineteen pounds. They were of
the 'black rattle" variety. a dull, slsty
black with irregular markings aud mot
Ting. and their bodies were symmetrical.
! II is thought that these two snakes have
been seen at various times by persons
who were roaming or picking berries in
the woods near the Swtchback The
skins will probably be displayed to tourists
at the engine house on the summit of
Mount Pisgah.-Mauch Chunk Cor. N. Y.
! World