The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
A SNAKE AND SPIDER fight.
Description of Battle Between o
Tarantula and a Rattler.
E,,.,, ,bs Ns,, York Advsrfissr

Description or n EaJtls between o
Tarantula and a Rattler.
From the Ne,g York advertiser.
The tsrautula is the giant spider Of Arl-
IONA, many individuals of this species being
80 large that their extended feet would
touch, like radii, the rim ofsa ircle drawn
around an inverted teacup. The tarau-
tua's temper is extremely violent, his
courage that of bulldog and his vi atty
proportionatey as that Of a grizzly bear
1t is not an uncommon thing for the SOL
diers stationed IN Arizona to pit tarsntulas
against each other, and TO bet heavily on
the lighting powers of their favorites.
Witnessing one of these combats during a
trip through Arizona last autumn, SCI
cured an especially large aud feroclous
tarantula and put him in cigar box, re-
solved to astonish my friends in New York
first, by an account of the ferocity OF his
race and, secondly, by sight of the ugly
fellow. bristlng for fight But "the best
laid plans of mice and men gang aft agleO,"
and my poisonous Pet never reached any
more eastern region than that of Denver,
Col. En- route home paused a day at
Denver. and calling at the Office Of the
Great Divide, met w. Fl. Tammsn, the
eccentric and, energetic manager OF that
peculiarly conducted magazine.
The office is q great curiosity shop full of
living and dead animals, 6-legged calves,
coyotes aud snakes. I have since learned
that Tammen is very proud OF his collec-
ton, and always takes his visitors the
rounds and has a marvellous story TO tell
about every animal and mineral specimen
In the office. However this may be lammen
took me on tour of inspection, and after
we had Razed at the mummy OF an Indian
girl, I was brought to halt before q large
wooden box with glass sides. Here" said
Tammen, sis the oldest and toughest rattle
snake in the Rocky mountains. He's killed
everything | ever put in his cage, including
ch ckens, rabbits, rats and cats" had the
cigar box in my overcoat pocket, the taran-
tula was In the box. Tammen had a fighter,
so had /, the opportunity was too evident
to lie neglected. "Did you ever try him
with tarsntulsp said |.
"Tarantua! Why, he'd swallow quart
of tarantulas whole and wash them down
with chestnut burrs!" said Tammen.
"Of course he would" said l.
''TIl bet you a champagne supper on It, -
said Tammen. By this time had the cigar
box in my hand. Done" said /, "aud
here's the little gentleman who will do the
snake"
The big RATHER was driven into one end of
his cage. and q partition let down in the
center of the box to keep him close, so that
the tirantula could be safely introduced.
The little sliding door at the other end of
the tox, carefully protected by a closely
woven wire screen, was raised, and the
tarantula slipped into the compartment.
The central partition was then pulled up,
and eager eyes peered through the glass
sides of the cage 70 witness 20 result.
The tarantua arose and bristled all over
like nu enraged porcupine, the rattlesnake
reared his head aud thrust forth his forked
tongue with the rapidity of lightning. Thus
81 -.,l a
manned for moment gazing at each other
Suddenly there was heard the thrilling
crepetatiOn Of the snakes rattles, and with
the pliaucy of steel spring the serpsnt
threw himself into a coil with his head
raised in the center, where it Vibrated rap
idly from side to side. The tarautula was
as immovable as il carved in stone. Sud-
denly, with a movement almost too swift
fer the eye TO follow, the RATHER struck but
he missed bis mark for the tarantula, with
the speed of fash Of lightning, bounded
into the air, and descending on one Of tho
serpent's coils sunk his fangs into his flesh.
The snake at once seemed to feel the pangs
of pain caused by the poisonous bite, and
began thrashing around the cage and finally
dislodged his foe.
Again the terantua became immovable,
and again the serpent coiled and struck
only to be foiled. Fireseemed to flash from
the tarantula glowed with baleful red like
danger signals shining through misty dark
ness. Both contestants appeared to know
that it was a duel to the death. There was
now tremulouB motion visibledn every
limb of the tarantula. and 1t was evident
that he was contemplating offensive meas
ures. With the leap Of tiger he bounded
upon his foe and once more sank his fangs
into the body Of the snake. This time it
was in vain for the serpent to writhe and
founder, for the tarantula chung to his
enemy with the tenacity of a bull
dog. The spider was bruised and beaten,
some of his legs were broken. but
he held on with desperate courage, aud
gradually the forts of the RATHER grew
weaker and weaker, until at last his coils
relaxed, his thrashtng ceased, and, with
only faint vibration OF his tail, he lay
stretched out upon the bottom Of his cage,
dead. The venom Of the tarantula had
done its work. The fight lasted only ten
minutes, aud was most thrilling exhibit
tion of ferocity and courage. The quickness
of motion exhibited by the taraDtula was
marvellous, and through it he avoided being
struck by the serpent. The spider appeared
to be conscious of the great victory ne had
won, and made an attempt to stand erect.
He was too badly burt, however, to accom-
plish this. The wager was decided in my
favor, and fifteen minutes later the Ia
ttrlo Col