The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-20
A STR ANGIE DUEL.
A Tarantula and q Rattlesnake Fight
to the Death.
From the Arozonu Great Divide

From the Arozonu Great Divide.
1t is quite a common thing among the
soldiers in Arizona to pit rarantulas against
OF their favorites This fact doubtlesl sug-
gested to the clerks in Fl. H. Tammen's GU
riosity store in Denver the idea of getting
upa fight between large and lively taran-
tula and rattlesnake.
Before the fight began the odds were ten
to one in favor OF the snake and there were
few takers. The proprietor was not in at
the time and the clerks had closed the store
for the night, 80 there was not much proba-
bility of an interruption. The big snake
was driven into one end Of his cage and a
partition let down to keep him safe, SO that
the tarantula could be introduced.
The little sliding door at the other end =,
carefully protected by closely woven wir @
screen, was raised and the tarantuls slipped
into the compartment. Then the partition
was pulled up and eager eyes peered
through the glass sides Of the cage to wit
ness the result. -sI5
The tarautula arose and bristled all over
like a chestnut burr, the rattlesnake raised
its head and thrust forth its forked tongue
with the rapidIty of lightning.
Thus the two strange and deadly creatures
remained for moment, gazing at each
other. ...r.
Suddenly there was heard the thrilling
whirr of the snakes rattles and with the
pliancy Of steel spring the snake threw
himself into o coil with his head raised in
the center and vibrating rapidly from side
to side. The tarantula was as immovable
as II carved in stems. $50 ~
Suddenly. with motion almost too swift
for the eye TO follow, the rattler struck, but
he missed his mark. for the tarantula, with
the speed OF lightning, bounded into the
air, and descended on one of the serpent's
coils, sunk his .fangs into the flesh. The
snake instantly began thrashing around the
cage and dislodged his foe.
Again the tarantula became immovable,
and again the serpent rooiled and struck,
only TO be foiled. Fire seemed to flash
from the eyes OF both the contestants, and
both appeared to know that il was fight
to the death. ..-..-:
There was now tremulous motion visible
in every limb of the tarantula, and 1t was
evident that he was templating often
sive measures. With the leap Of a tiger he
bounded upon bis foe and once more sank
his fangs into the body OF the snake
This time IL was in vain for the serpent to
writhe and founder, for the tarantula chung
to his enemy with the tenacity of BULL
dog.
The spider was bruised and beaten, some
of his legs were broken, but he held on with
uoopoA aVo COul hS0s AhN & ouuohJ Oho oAOitp
Of the RATHER grew weaker until at last his
| coils relaxed, aud with only faint vibra-
zion Of his tail, he lay stretched out upon the
bottom Of the cage dead.
The deadly venom of the tarantula had
done its work.
The fight lasted only ten minutes and
was u most thrilling exhibition of ferocity
and courage. The quickness of motion ex-
| hibited by the tarantula was marvellous,
and through it he avoided being struck bV
| the serpent.
The dead serpent was evidence against the
| clerks and they had to confess to the pro-
! prietor that they had introduced the taran-
tuia to the serpent with a result which none
OF them had anticipated.