The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-23
RATHER NINE FEET LONG.
Two Pennsylvania Charcoal Burners
Have a Fight with the Reptile.

READING, PA, oct. ls.-Corneiius and
William EiGier are veteran charcoal burn
ers at Green Point, In Round Top Val
ley q place famous Tor it's big copper
heads and rattlesnaiies. These Old-time
woodmen have killed many reptiles
among The rocks, but yesterday they en-
c0untered a snake that for a time made
It the most interesting as well as ex-
citing event OF their lives The men had
just finished firing hin Of charcoal when
they heard the familiar sound Of a rat
tier about twenty-five feet away. They
went cautiously IA the direction OF the
noise. when they saw the snakes head
rising above the brush, and heard another
series OF sharp r5tties to warn them OK
the danger. They hurled stones OF the
snake whereup0n a big rattler fairly
leaped into the air aud started after
them. Being expert at snake fighting the
Fidlors quickly stepped 10 one side and
the serpent went his.ng BY They saw it's
prod gious size and temper and fought
with more care.
Following up the snake they hurled
stones and sticks, when 10 turned and
1arted after them. Terrified for the first
time ia their lives BY a snake. they dash
ed out Of the thicket 10 a clear place 10
have better chance. In the open they
grabbed cut hickory wood left over from
the coal oven and turned I'm time 70 meet
the rather with a quick half coil the
snake gathered himself and zprang at
Cornelius. The serpent was met with a
short blow. william Fidlar closed IN.
aimed a blow. but missed. The snake
turned upon him. knN a. snfp "a his
hick leather boot bu, II glanced OF. Cor
neiils then threw h.a club no the snake
striking 90 in the neck The raitler In a
Cash c1r.rd up in si'at brown. Quiv-
arlng heap shook l.s head. ratified loudly
ana was ABOUT iv spring at william when
he hurled bis club and struck the snake
fairly about lw9 feef from IT'S head. The
angry reptile had received a mortal blow.
IT'S head fell 10 within three inches Of the
gr0un1 IL then made terrific effort 10
raise for a final spring rs body coiied
clos and b Has ready % spring again.
when both hurled rocks upon me repil'e.
sne Of which broke IFS back. j, then hiss
I'd and ihrashed the earth With is wound
sd BODY. the tlii end stiii coi'ed and rat
ling out its own death agony The wood
men secured more stones and sticks and
soon pounded the snake 70 death. IL meas
iIred exactly nine feet, the largest RATHER
on record In the worst snake region Of
Pennsylvania.
II was OF yellowlsh brown color with
large dark spots OF variable shape edged
With yellow along the back and sides. On
the head and neck were dark bands. IL
had eighteen rattles. Some persons soid
that the number OF ratties indicated tho
age OF the reptile 20 be IS years, while
others contended that new rattle was
formed every time the snake shed It's skin,
and that Il d.d this more than once q
year, and also that the Oldest rattles
wear away I'm time and are lost. and
therefore. the age OF the reptile could not
be known definitely. Rattlesnakes four
ana five feet lotg frequently have been
killed. but the oldest citizens had never
heard OF a rattler so large as this. II
would have been fine specimen for
museum II It had not been 30 greatly mu-
tilated during the fght-New York Sun