The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-18
FIGHT WITH A RATHER.
\ Guide and His Dog Attacked In
the Adirondack.
From the Philadelphia Times

FROM the RnlidQel pnla Times.
Blocker, N. Y. Aug. 1-RattIesnakes
have not been alarmingly plentiful in
the Adirondack region so far this year.
and no fatalities have been reported; but
Jerry Parker. the guide. has had an ex-
perience with a RATHER that is about as
thrilling as anything in its line that ever
took place in these historic mountains.
Parker was up in the mountains one
day last week with his gun and dog. He
tramped about all afternoon but saw
nothing worth shooting at Just about
dusk Jerry whistled to his dog turned
about and started down the mountain
side for home. The trail along the por-
ton of the mountain followed By Jerry
was pretty plainly marked, and there
wasn't much danger Of the hunter getting
lost.
Despite his inability to shoot anything
on account of the scarcity of wild game
Jerry was in good spirits. He whistled
loudly and with bOyish eXuberance That
is probably why Jerry didn't see the big
rattlesnake on which he stepped with a
suddennes that was surprising alike to
reptile and hunter.
The snake wriggled from beneath Jerry's
foot with amazing swiftness. II cOiled
itself, darting its head angrily back and
forth. The beady eyes cleaned in the
fast gathering darkness like spiteful jets
of flame.
Jerry raised his gun, but before he could
shoot the deg was upon the snake. Quick
as a flash of lightning the snake circled
through the air and curled itself around
the dogs neck. The dog howled with
fright. Jerry hunted around in the gloom
of the trail until he found a stick. The
dog was fast weakening, and jerry was
not moment too soon In going to the AMI
mal's rescue. With the stick ne beat loose
the terrible reptiles hold. Freed from
the perilous clutch of the snake the dog
staggered about for moment and then
all TO kn faf -lnna .IrrRsa
But the snake was not vanquished. 1t
writhed about the earth with Incredible
swiftness, and then raised itself and shot
through the air at jerry with all the ma
levolence of its species. Its fangs caugnt
in the guides coat sleeve. With a cry Of
terror Jerry tore the lashing reptile from
him and hurled 1t into the underground
skirting the trail. A moment later its
sinuous, deadly body wriggled dimly back
into view. Jerry quicker than thought
leveled his gun and fired A gush of yell
low flame belched from the snake Jerry
realized that unless he speedily killed the
reptile he would probably be it's victim.
The darkness was growing deeper ana
deeper with each succeeding moment
The lights in the struggling streets of the
town that lay below had been twinkllng
full half hour. Throwing aside his gun,
Jerry clutched the stick with which he
had freed the dog from the snake and
prepared for another attack.
A frightened yelp from the dog indi-
Cdlcu Lldl tue serpent ndu again attacked
the intelligent canine. Once more Jerry
sprang to the rescue, and succeeded in
saving his valuable dog. The animal
got a great many q the blows intended
for the snake, but IL Is probably thank
full now that ii was no worse
The snake dropped from the dogs back
and attacked Jerry. It Kissed spitefuliy
much after the manner of a cat at bay
when the nervy guide sprang at It in
the darkness of the roadway. The mans
eyes were sharpened by fear, but while
his vision was abnormally keen Il was
not as telling as that of the snakes
Again the desperate snake sprang at
the man; again it failed to strike a
vital spot. Jerry was beginning to feel
the effects of this queer battle. The
trembling in his limbs, and the perspira-
ton that dripped from his face warned
him against prOlonging this unequal bat
tie The guide raised his stick in the
air and cut savagely at the shadowy
form of the snake.
To his joy the blow had not been aimed
in vain. The stick struck the snake Just
back of the head, killing II instantly. The
reptile fell an inert mass at Jerry's feet.
Jerry called rather weakly to his dog
and staggered down the trail toward
home. The next morning the guide went
back up the trail and measured the snake.
1t was four feet and half long.
1t had eighteen buttons, and was one
of the largest rattlers ever seen in this
region of the mountain.