Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-23
ONE MANS SNAKE RECORD.

4sus misery Of . GeoeeiAn whs Doss
Not With TO Pose - = nruncAAusen.
There is citizen of Voldosta who has
I'D some startling experiences with
poisunous snakes during his life. He is
entirely responsible, does not like no
toriety and seldom talks Of his advent
ures with reptiles, because he feafs his
recital Of them would not be believed,
and he does not care to figure as Mum
chausen among snake story tellers.
Some time ago he was attracted by the
laughing Of a child who was at play in
the front yard. Looking through the
window he discovered to his horror that
the child was playing with great live
ratt1esnake, 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 on 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, chad
cause to tramp all day with some COM
panions in . swamp, and it was during
snake time Of the year. During that
day / had the misfortune to step on as
many - three live and wrigglng moe
caains ct different times, but had the
good lnck, IS usual, to get off without
having their poisonous fangs struck into
my hesh. No other one Of the party had
any such close calls It all fell to my
lot
"At another time, while ! was push
ing my way through a thick and boggy
swamp, one of my feet broke through
the mc8 covered mud, and it threw me
forward. caught at tussock jnst by
me-, and threw my hand on large moe
cain. It fiinched, but did not move.
was stuck in the mud Its forked tongue
flashed in my facei could not get up
without struggle, and was afraid to
make the effort, fearing that move
ment on my part would bring strike
in tho face held my breath, while my
hand went to my belt, and drew there
from pistol. In an instant got in the
frst blow, and the snakes head went off.
A friend stood on tussock five feet
away watching the tragedy-in one act.
Recently I was hunting COWS in the
pine woods. rode mule. Twas going
at : slow lope. Suddenly the beast threw
its head down with a snort, and plowed
the earth with both fore hoofs in des-
perate effort to take up. went over
the horn Of the saddle and astride of the
mules neck, and would have pitched
over my bead on the spot had Inot seized
the animals ears, one in each hand, as !
struggled wildly to prevent fall. My
head and chest went full over its head,
but my grip on the long ears and my feet
locked around its neck saved me for the
time.
'Thus poised in ridiculous attitude,
my beast regained its footing, and then
began backing and slamming me about
against brush and sapling, until rolled
Oh on the ground. When gained my
feet discovered large rattlesnake in
coil under palmetto bush, just in front
Of the spot where the mule made thedes-
perate effort to stop, and if had gone
over the animals head would have
fallen head foremost upon the deadly
reptile.
More wonderful to relate, little
toddler who was burdened with my name
came across q rattler one day and picked
it up, and went around playing with it
until an older brother discovered the
chih's peril and jerked it away from the
snake. e."-Atlanta Constitution.