The National tribune., 1895-08-15

How 22 Porl1ers Nanquished an ARMY of
Rattlers-Five Hundred in an Hour and a
Half-IncIe John Lake Kidding Cow
Ranch of The Reptiles.

How 22 ForlSers Narquished an ARMY Oh
RattIers-Five Hundred in an Hour and a
HALT ncle John Lake Kidding Cow
Ranch of The Reptiles.
fCaijtorid Letter, Nesg York Tines
The southern end of this State is noted for
4s atilesnal,es. and many adventures are re-
ported with the reptiles. desperate and
almost inde-scribable battle between a horde
Of rattlesnakqs and q bunch OF hogs occurred
a few DAYS ago on John Lakes place, at the
foot Of The san Jacinto Mountain. This
branch OF the san BeInardino spur Of the
coast range has long been noted as the home
and rendezvous of thousands of Iattlesnakes
of the dusky-brown species, which have been
looked upon with dread by hunters, because
they have always been exceedingly aggressive
and dangerous For years this mountain had
been the terror and dread OF the people Of the
vicinity. and it was seldom that any traveller
or hunter had the temerity to cross the ridge
ut or near a certain point. so numerous and
deadly were the poisonous reptiles.
But All that has been changed. owing 70 the
fact that John Lake has imported from North
Carolina bunch of l0ng-nosed long-legged
hogs, which. frQFa their elongated appearance,
have been dubbed "slugdiggerS. Uncle
John had been so pestered aud annoyed by
The army Of snakes which infested his COW
ranch that he set his wits to work, ard finally
hit upon the plan of importing these lank and
bony swine. which had the reputation of
being inveterate enemies of the snake family.
He hauled over the mountains - big hogs of
This species, and placed them in pens, where
they were well fed and treated.
When the old man concluded that his mus
cular pets were sufficiently acclimated and at
home nc released them, and early in the
morning. while il was vet cool and the snakes
were half henUmbed or asleep, he went up
the mountains to a spot where he knew the
reptiles dwelt by the Thousand All along
the path he dropped ears of corn until he
reached the side Of the snalle-pit a sunken
spot on the side of the mountain embracing
about half an acre. Here be threw down a
bushel Of loose corn, and, with his boys, took
shelter in low tree Within a few minutes
the satisfied grunts Of the poTkers were heard,
as they followed the trail OF corn. until the
whole drove Of hogs broke into view from the
underbrush.
They came on until they arrived at the pit
where they stood for a minute or two until
the old boar, an immense fellow, came up
when he took the lead and went grunting
down the bank into the pit All the ether
members Of the family followed. until the -
hogs were in the small amphiiheater OF half
an acre. by the time they had thoroughly
cleaned mp the corn the snakes. aroused bv
the heat OF the morning sun and ihe noise of
the porkers, began TO appear from the crcvices.
A dozen and then 20 then several hundred
rattlers writhed their 1.-the bodies from their
holes. and looked at the hogs with shining
eyes and eaTting tongues. Two or three
hundred snakes in mass Of simy. surging
bodies. began to draw themselves toward the
hogs. but they had not craM led more than 80
or 40 feet away from the creyices in the rocks
before the old boar gave shrill, iniuriated
squea. when the whole drove of hogs was
among It's enemies.
The scene which followed cannot be put in
words The few spectators would not haye
missed the sight for a ranch. The hogs
charged their enemies. picking them up in
their Jaws and tramping them under foot.
while the snakes shook their Iattles ard
struck their enemies with their iangs The
fight RACED for half an hour. a hog retreating
for moments rest. and then recharging into
the midst OF the writhing mass. ripping and
trampling the snakes until the ground was
literally covered with their suuirming bodies.
At ono time the old boar was almost covered
with snakes. but be didn't appear 10 care for
their bites or their poison. He would reach
alDhlAa- NtACH Il hldkt III lis Jaws. THROW IL
TO the ground. and then hold it there with his
feet until be tore its body 10 pieces This he
kept up for half an hour, retreating but once
fol- a breath Of air or a brief rest, when back
he went again. IN less than an hour the hogs
conquered, Hot one snake being left alive, ex-
cept few which had succeeded in reganing
the crcyiceS before the hogs had Ganked them.
After yanquishing the army Of snakes. the
porkeTs lay down among the dead bodies of
their enemies until they lad sufficiently
rested. when they again aroused themselves.
and led by the old boar, they began to root
mp and turn over the rocks, every now and
then exposing RATHER which had hidden his
body away from his porcine enemy. When
snake was thus exposed there was a rush. and
in liiiy that fattler was torn into little bits
In an hour and a half not living snake
could be found, and the hogs were, to all ap-
pearmces rs sound and hearty as ever
Uncle John then picked up his feed sack and
made trail Of corn back TO the house but
the hogs did not follow, seeming to prefer the
flesh of the snakes TO the corn Ever since
the drove of hogs has remained in the mount
aims coming home only TO get a change of
food. The hogs have cleaned out the snakes.
Uncle John says that there were not less than
500 rattlers killed IN the fight, and not one
hog was hurt