The morning call., 1891-07-06
A NOVEL COMBAT.
Deadly Conflict Between Red Squirrel
and Black Snake.

Deadly Conflict Between a Red Squirrel
and Black Snake.
A Hamilton Ohio special to Cincinnati
Enquirer says: William Copeland. farmer,
living a short distance south of Collinsville,
was in town to-day telling the particulars of
a strange combat he witnessed las. Sunday.
Mr.. Copeland is stanch Christian and
was on his way to church when the affair
occurred. He was making a short cut by
passing through clearing on the farm OF
William Neal.
Suddenly his attention was attracted by a
most peculiar noise. 1t took him some time
to locate the singular sound, which all the
time was growing louder and more fierce.
He finally traced it to large tree on the
edge of the clearing He went up to the
tree and discovered that it was hollow.
Looking through big hole in the side he
saw an enormous black snake in deadly
conflict with common fox squirrel.
The duel must have been in progress for
some time, as tn ere were long gashes in the
reptiles skin, sh owing the effective work Of
the squirrels teeth and claws. The four
footed antagons. bore no visible marks of
the fray. Neither paid any attention what
ever to Mr.. Copeland, and, in fact, his pres
ence seemed to have no effect on the battle.
The squirrel would jump down on the
snake. and in few minutes they would be
mixed up in a whirliug mass, the squirrel
barking at a live ly rate and the reptile hiss
ing savagely. In ali instant the squirrel
would appear to disengage himself and
bound out OF the reach of the snake. After
resting a while and evidently recovering bis
strength for another assault the squirrel
would suddenly give another leap anu fdS Ten
his fangs in the snakes neck, just back of
the head. In this position the reptile could
do nothing excep: lash himself into fury,
Wlllp his Itfla hung fpnapnusi U
with claws and teeth. Again bounding up
the inside of the tree, out of sight of Mr..
Copeland. the sQirrel could be heard chat
terlng dehantly at his antagonist. 1t looked
as if they were lighting rounds just as the
men do in the prize-Ying. While MIR. Cope
land stood there he saw fully half dozen
of these rounds, every one of which was de-
clsively in favor OF the squirrel. Some
times n his impotent wrath the serpent
would writhe about the bottom OF the hol-
low trunk in fearful rage, the squirrel bark
ing mockingly at the performance. Ole
time the squirrel Jumped out on the edge of
the opening and remained perfectly atill
until the snake darted at him. Before he
could land" however, the squirrel was
just beyond reach. de kept up this tantal-
izing action for some time, and, Judging
from his laughing bark, seemed to enjoy
the reptiles discontinue.
In making one Of his terrible lunges the
snake threw himself entirely out of the hol-
| low. The battle continued as before, the
squirrel making one of his quick attacks
anu nimbly bounding out of reach before
the snake could recover. Ms Copeland
finally, after several rounds hal thus been
fought, concluded to put an end to the
novel combat. Securing large club. he
dealt the snake blow that stretched him
| out on the grass. Tie squirrel. still baI k
| ing at lively rate, scampered up the tree,
and from bough continued to chatter and
watch the proceedings. The snake when
measured proved to be tho largest snake
ever seen in this section. 1t was nine feet
four inches long, and three feet below the
head measured nine and one fourth inches
| in circumference. The skin will be stuffed
| and placed on exhibition