Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-08-06
STARTLING EXPERIENCES.
A Georgian's Many Close Calls With
Deadly Snakes.

There is citizen at Valdosta, Ga,
who hrs had some startling experiences
with poisonous snakes during his life.
He is entirely responsible. docs not like
notoriety and seldom talks OF his ad zen
lures with reptiles, because he fears the
recital Of them would not be believed,
and he does not care to figure as a Nun
chausen among snake story tellers.
sometime ago he was attracted by the
laughing of child who was at play in
the front yard. Looking through the
window. he discovered to his horror that
the child was playing with a great, live
rattlesnake, which sprang its warning
rattle just as the child was rescued from
what would have been certain death.
AT another time recently, while wad-
ing in branch, he stepped OH large
water moccasin, and narrowly escaped
being bitten, as he had crushed the
body of the reptile and aroused its
wrath. 1t did show fight, however,
chasing him to dry land.
ION still another OCCASION" says this
hero of many battles with snakes, II
had cause to tramp all day with some
companions in a swamp, and it was dur
ing snake time OF the year. During that
day | had the misfortune to step on as
sins at different times, but The good luck
as usual to get off without having their
poisonous fangs stuck into my flesh. No
other one of the party had any such
close calls. 1t all fell to my lot.
eat another time, while l was push
ing my way through thick and Doggy
swamp, one of my feet broke through
the moss-coycred mud, and it threw me
forward. caught at n tussock just at
me, and threw my hand on a large moe
casin. II f1inched, but did not move.
was stuck In the mud Its forked tongue
flashed in my face. could not get up
without struggle and was afraid to
make the effort. fearing that a move
ment on my part would bring strike
in the face. l held my breath, while
my hand went 10 my belt, and / drew
therefrom q pistol. In an instant got
in the first blow, and the snakes head
went off. A friend stood on tussock
five feet away watching the tragedy-in
one act.
Recently was hunting cows in the
-f.i.,s--~~oeas.-I-ro do--c -sauio.-I ,vas
going at a slow 'lope. Suddenly the
beast threw its head down with snort
and p!owed the earth with both fore
hoofs in desperate effort to take up.
went over the horn of the saddle and
astride of the mules neck; and would
have pitched over my head on the spot
had l not seized the animals ears, one
in each hand, as l struggled wildly to
prevent fall. My head and chest went
full over its head. but my grip on the
long ears aud my feet locked round its
neck saved me for the time. Thus poised
in ridiculous attitude my beast re-
gained its footing and then began back
ing and slammipg me about against
brush and sapling. until rolled off on
the ground. When gained my feet l
discovered large rattlesnake in coil
under palmetto bush, just in front of
the spot where the mule made the des-
perate effort to stop. and if | had gone
ivies.tha neutrality-suspicious. deauIy rep
tile.
"More wonderful to relate. little tod
dler, who was burdencd with my name,
came across RATHER one day and picked
it up, and went running round playing
with it. until an older brother discovered
the child's peril and jerked it away from
the snake. VI Atlanta Constitution.