The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-25


A correspondent Of the Atlanta COnsti-
ton writes to that paper from Bowling
Green. Fla, as followr; John +. Simpson.
who lives a mile or two from here on Flat
head creek, relates the hest snake story Of
the season. Simpson il great hunter, and
spends most of his time in the woods. His
house IL situated not far from the creeks
hanks and on the edge of a thick hummOck.
One day last week John started on bis
usual tramp but, somehow or other, had
very little luck during the morning. About
noon he stopped on the edge 4 a little lake
and. kindling fire. brOiled some birds that
he had shot, and lay down for an aiter-din-
ner sesta.
All at once he was awakened by feeling a
cold, clammy mass moving over his breast
underneath his coat. Raising his head
slightly. not understanding the situation.
be was brought 10 the startling conscious
ness Of bis peril by hearing buZZing under
| his coat and a second later a big black
head jumped up almost into his face with
wide-open mouth, while its torked tongue
PLAYED back and forth with lightning
| swiftness. and its beady eyes snapped fire.
| IL was a rat Ter OF the largest dimensions,
and John was paralyZed with fear It the
imminent danger he was placed in.
His aead sank back, and he hardly dared
TO breathe, so anxious was he to calm the
angry reptile. The snake kept up its head
In threatening attitude for several seconds,
or hours, ~ il seemed TO John. and, a. il
satisfied, slowly lowered IL, but John could
feel the coils stretching over his breast as
II lay down. A few seconds later, a low,
rustlng noise at one side Of him made him
still more anxious, and, TO add 10 that,
another suspicious sound was heard on the
opposite side, which appeared to his strain
ed hearing as il score Of reptiles were
crawling around him.
The rattler, too, heard the sound, and,
raising its head up slightly. SCUM - the
deadly warning. The sounds on each
side Of him increased. and. although he
could not see. he judged that one or more
eerpepts were racing around him. The rat
tier grew more and more angry, and its
deadly ratt!es became louder and louder.
and its evil head was raised high. its long
red tongue playing between its lips like
liehning flashes. Johns position was any
thing but an enyiaDle one: his blood be-
came stagnant IN the position he was forced
To assume, and he was almost crazy with
fright
Suddenly streak of black flashed
through the air aud big blacksnake
hurled itself upon the deadly ratiler and in
an instant the two were wrapped In fierce
embrace. Another line Of black from on
the opposite side and big king snake, even
ldlLtI lutil lNt lldtk WN's iiuEfN nlih-f II
upon the two struggling C0mbatanis. The
mass ofthree lgh'ins snakes on his chest
set John craEy. and with yell he suddenly
leaped up to his feet. throwing on his coat. ]
and by good fortune dislodged the snakes
80 that they fell at his feet. while with
another leap, he was dozen feet away. |
The RATHER struck at John as be jumped |
ur. but missed and hit the black snake in |
stead this further enraged this pugnaci0us /
reptile. anu tue ngnt @aXed warm and /
deadly The two snakes sought TO wrap the /
rattler in their long, strong folds, but the !
latter objected most seriously. Rais.ag /
himself from his coil, he darted again and /
again at his antagonists but each time they /
omded MN.
swiftly the two closed about the RATHER
as il lay in COLI so fast, indeed that John.
who was standing about a couple o. rods .
away, said that ne could only see streak
Of black with the rattlor's red eyes in the I
center. All at once, one Of the others sprang
for the RATHER, eyaded his deadly strickland
wrapped his folds swiftly around bis body,
stretching il ont full. The other one came
10 Nc rescue, and iu lees time than IL takes
10 tell. the two snakes were ilrmly bound
around the RATHER. and had him stretched
at fun length on the ground. Their power
fIl folds tIshtened ON the rattler's form, and
his open mouth and strong, but Intellectual
struggles showed that be was bein-
strangled 20 death
The folds frightened each moment. and bro
A very short time not "a quiycr could he
seen ~ the rsttler's form The Two snakes
retained their position for several minute
amer the RATHER had ceased 90 move, and
then slowly released themselves, stopping
every now aud then as il suspicion, that
the RATHER was shammng.
AT disrutaugiug themselves they Dag
alongside the RATHER for several minutes.
and then. us 10 fully satisfied that tueir foe
was dead. both turned ot into the forest
doubtless feeling we'll satisfied with their
work. John Saws nr was well content -
iet them go in peace. a. tnrN nld doubtless
saved his liie. lie examined ihe RATHER
after they htd gone, and found that Dr. wa.
and stretched out like q piece
OF rubber. llewas bigOne, aud me lsurtd
over seven feet lon-, carry ug ten rait.er-
ana a butOu,
John says this Is the first experience Of
the kind that he had ever had with rather
aud be hopes il will be the last.