The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-05
FARMER PERKINS, SNAKE TINE.
CircIed by Three Black Constructors
He Had to WhittIe Off.

From the WIllimantic Evening Journal
Daniel b. Perkins, a farmer in Pleasant
Valley. started for his work on Tuesday
morning when he was brought to a stop
by a most unusual circumstance. Across
the little path and directly in front of
him lay three large snakes. They were
blacksnakes, and each one was over six
feet long, as a subsequent measurement
disclosed. The snakes were perfectly quiet.
They had apparently craWled out of their
winter quarter in the ground 10 welcome
the spring, and We're lying exposed TO the
warm sunshine.
Mr. Perkins rummaged around in the
woods and secured a stout stick and adj
vanced to the attack. The reptile nearest
Mr.. Perkins was somewhat smaller than
the others, and Mr.. Perkins naturally Sc
lected him for his first victim. lie adVanc-
ed to the attack and struck the nearest
snake sharply across the back with MS
stick Much to his surprise the stick
broke. The snake struck MIR. Perkins knee
and rapidly curled itself around his legs,
using all his power to crush them. Mr..
Perkins had noticed that the three snakes
were all adorned with a White band about
the neck, the distinguishing mark Of
specially dangerous species that XIII by
eXerting a crushing pressure on their
Suddenly, while Mr.. Perkins was strug-
Cling with the snake, it gave a low, pc
Guitar hiss, and Immediately the two 9th
er snakes awoke from the torpor. Iney
looked around, and, seeing Mr.. Perkins
struggling with snake No. /, they raised
their heads and Kissed. Then, after what
seemed to be a momentary' consultation,
they squ,rmed over the ground in haste
TO the assistance of the snake with which
Mr.. Perkins was struggling, and jumped
upon him, twining themselves about his
legs Now, indeed, Mr.. Perkins felt that
he was in danger. The three great
snakes were entwined about his legs and
trying to work their way upwards. the
bones of his legs felt as If they were
about to be broken by the tremendous
pressure. , He knew that If the reptiles
once got above his waist the strength eX-
erted by them would be sufficient to crush
his Vitals Mr.. Perkins called out for help,
but the nearest house was mile away.
Fighting the three snakes as well as he
could with one hand, Mr.. Perkins drew
from his trousers pocket a big jackknife
and managed to get the blade open. Then
he struck Savagely at his assailants.
Plenty of blood flew, but the injuries
inflicted upon the serpents seemed for
time, to serve only to make them more
angry and desperate. They eXerted great
er strength and made more frantic en-
deavors to pass above the waist of Mr..
Then Mr.. Perkins adopted heroic meas
ures. He realized that unless he killed
the snakes they would kill him. He took
his jackknife and, taking the serpents
one by one, cut their heads off. Even
then the bodies chung to his person with
such strength that he was compelled TO
cut the bodies off. piece by piece, as he
unwound them from his legs. The body
of each serpent was cut into three or more
pieces. BY an heroic use of his jack
knife Mr.. Perkins at last freed himself
from the tolls of the enemy.
He was in an exhausted condition. His
shirt and overalls had been torn in the
struggle and SO soaked with the blood
of the snakes as to make their further
use an impossibility. Mr.. Perkins showed
the shirt yesterday, and it was a sight,
being torn into shreds and covered with
blood. The blood ran down his shirt and
overalls into his boots. After the battle
Mr. Perkins gave up all idea of working
that day and returned home. His nervous
system had sustained a severe shock, ana
his legs We're black and blue as a. result
of the pressure exerted by the serpents.
-She-Does Miss Wheeler cover much
ground during a day?
He-Oh, yes; she falls off a dozen times.
-Yonkers Statesman.