Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-10-19
buy the rattler at any cost.

4
greatest curiosity on yearth. " This
was cut short by Mitchell saying:
s' Hoss, how much will you take for
your show7''
- Considerin' it's worth to me Sc
day and that the season is now at its
height, the lowest price I'll ask is
$780," answered Hosstetter, in n
business manner.
This was out of all question; but it
did not take long for the persuasive
eloquence of Gov. Letcher to satisfy
{" Old Hoss" that good deal of fun
tas in prospect, and compromise
was effected by handing the boss of
the show $50 note on condition that
he would carry his glass box across
the creek and "spill the tiger OUT"
as Mitchell expressed it.
The committee feared that by this
time the black snake had taken him
self away, but the sun was shining
hot and the gentlemen manifested
great pleasure at seeing the king of
the snakes coiled up in the spot
where they left him; but for fear
some accident might happen that
would deprive all present of the
morning sport, Hosstetter was or
dered to let his pet loose. He did
so by raising the glass door of the
reptiles cage, and as liberty is sweet
even to a snake, the rattler crawled
out of his pent-up prison, and no
sooner had he got his entire length on
his native soil than his piercing eyes
spotted two enemies-the black snake
in his front and Hosstetter in the rear.
With quick movement he drew him
self up and struck at his master, who
jumped out of the way. This nn-
grateful action on the part of the rat
tier had one good effect. 1t caused
the spectators to move further back,
| leaving more room for the battle of
the snakes.
Money was plenty in those good
old times, and Us everybody present
seemed to be possessed of his share
of it, high betting became the order.
The extreme southerners backed the
rattler, while the yirginians, aided
by few North Carolinians, accepted
all offers made against the proud and
gamy representative snake of the
ancient Commonwealth.
1t is estimated that $40, 200 was
wagered on the result, but while the
gentlemen were arranging their bets
the rival snakes were preparing for
the deadly strife. AS soon as the
blacksnake awoke from his seeming
slumber he uncoiled himself, and
limbering up sprang for the weather
side of the rattler. This caused the
latter to change his position, making
more room for the tactics of Vir-
ginia's pride. The rattler would
raise himself and strike out his full
length, to be surprised at finding his
enemy few inches out OF reach.-
The blacksnake kept up slow and
steady march in circular motion
around the rattlesnake, and while
making no pretence to act on the Of
fensive, he always managed to keep
out of reach of the poisonous fangs
that were thrust ut him.
The men from the cotton belt said
that the pride of Virginia was a cow
ard, and offered three to two that the
rattler would beat him.
&c There's no fight in the cur"
shouted Charley Mitchell, who Mt the
same time offered 500 to SO that
the coward would get licked. IL Is
needless to say that all bets on the
rattlesnake were taken up by the Vir-
ginians. The only fear on their part
was that the rattler might strike their
champion, and, il so, their jig was up
but they depended on the native COM
mon sense and cunning of the black
snake, which knew his enemy and how
to deal with him. The more the rat
tier struck out the weaker he became,
until at last it was plain to his hackers
that unless something was done
quickly the game would become d
draw, as they concluded the black.
snake would never show fight. The
scene was becoming monotonous,
when Hosstetter shouted out: "I'll
bet the 500 1 got for my pet that he'll
get licked"
Mitchell Immediately answered:
f" I'll take it," but there was no more
betting, as the wise men among the
cotton planters began to think that
Hosstetter's knowledge of snakes,
from his forty years experience
among them, was a little better than
their own, and while they expected
some new turn in the affair, they
could not tell what it would be; but
there was one thing certain, the bet
ting life was knocked out of them
when Hosstetter staked the price Of
his show on the result.
They did not have much longer to
wait, for at last the time when the
blacksnake was to make himself IA
nous had arrived. The rattIesnake
became exhausted while the black
was apparently fresh and strong
Watching his opportunity, the cham
pion of the YirginiaDs lifted himself
off the ground with marvellous rapid
lity, and throwing himself across the
the body of his rival, coiled his folds
around his now PROSTATE enemy and
hugged him to death. The cracking
of the rattIer's bones could be dis
tinctly heard and all was over.
The Gotten men said it was not
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