The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-04-07
A DUEL TO THE DEATH.
Two Snakes Meet and Fight in
Deadly Earnest
The Tremendous Crushing Power of the
BIacksaske Gives Ii the Supremacy
Over the NenoInous But
Weaker Rather

thrilling fight between a black
snake and rattlesnalxe was witnessed
on the Cummings orange grove 10y a
party of gentlemen from Daytona, says
the Florida Times Mon. For several
weeks past blacksnalSe about ten feet
long has made its headquarters under
AN old crib on the grove. appearing oc-
casionally, but never allowing himself
to be killed. lie was as large around
as ones wrist and as fierce a looking
fellow as one would want To encounter
The gentlemen were seated under q
larg. palmetto tree enjoying the pleas
ant afternoon when they noticed rat
tlesuake creep slowly and cautiously
ont from brush heap and coil himself
with head in the air and eyes turned
toward the party as if to say: Here /
am" one gentleman seized club. hut
the others persuaded him 10 delay his
attack and watch the reptile for awhile
and see what il would do. They had =
chance To size up the stranger, who was
about six feet long and of grayish
striped color. In few minutes the
blacllsnallc was seen to appear from
under the crib fifty feet distant and
move slowly toward the rattlesnale-
Now for fight" said Mr. Bert
Walker, and the party drew back To
give the reptiles n full show. Noise
l,..,sly came the big blacl, fellow. carry
ing his head high in the air and occa-
sinnally dropping it, apparently study
ing the ground around which hc was to
make the attack. 1t was plainly cvi-
dent that the blacllSnalle wanted To
fight When within twenty feet of the
other creature he. stopped, raised his
- |.
the first time. The ground between
them was clear, not a stick or a stone
being noticed for many yards.
The rattlcSnake raised his head and
threw out his tongue and seemed to be
prepared for an encounter. They
really reminded one of a couple of dcs-
pcrate men Just entering the arena for
a fight To the death Presently the
black champion started on u circle
around his prey. getting nearer To the
RATHER every minute. The rattler
never took his eye from his approaching
enemy and his head going round re
minded the loOller-on of the movements
Of a curlzScrew. When within six feet
of the rattler the black fellow flew
around 50 fast that you could hardly
tell what it was. 1t was like taking a
q string tied to a stick and twirling it
with all ones might. Suddenly the
two came together and immediately
became entwined about each other. roll
ing over and over in the dust. This
lasted fully five minutes. Then there
was a lull and the blackSnallc was seen
to have his adversary by the throat
with his mouth. His body was twisted
about the rattler's body, and every few
seconds he~yould give a squeeze that
sent the rattler SO much further toward
his end.
In ten minutes the black hero dropped
the body of his victim, blew himself
up, took one last look and then slowly
wound off into the brush.
II was rare and remarkable scene
and thoroughly enjoyed by all the
party. One of the gentlemen raised up
the dead rattler on a stick and found
that he was terribly gaShed and
mangled. Like the boa-constrictor, the
biaclisnalle does not bite but crushes
out the life of its victim.