The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-11-06
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Nl'O5l1.E:
lAS 8 IN AK KES o RM d & R B
Is Bitten by Is Huge Rattlssnakes
That BE Was Handling

That He Was Handling ssi
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With the Deadly Fanps Twice Pla M
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90 @ - iiS s OF .tne
Ran swiftIy TO the, Is ss
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a special dispat tch from CharlottaS
to the Atlanta Tonrnal Z. ne a g
nro,,oh =, w, = - :, ' ? -
touo, - y instoa, is ats the Z
PreaDyterian hospital suffering from
dangerous wounds inflicted by rattle-s
snake, which he was exhibiting at the 4
fair grounds. S ..il
Mr.. Crouch Is cripple, and has
wife and seven children. A year ago
be started to collecting snakes and
other animals and exhibiting them.
and has made q good living by this In
dustry. Big letters on his tent de-
clare that he has inside ground ht,pa.
guinea pigs, angora rabbits, Joe. al
four-legged rooster, coon, SQUIRRELS
and rattlesnakes. !"
Crouch ha, five rattlesnak kes-twoS
large and three small ones. He bought
these within a year from men VIM
captured them In their wild state.
Until Friday Crouch, had handled all
bis snakes with safety, though he
realized that the poison had not been
extracted fr)m the fanqs Of two az fine
large snakes. 7a:1 IS Is (:
The largest snake is over four feet
long, and has number OF rattles.s Mr..
Crouch took this snake from It's box
to show It to young man who was in
the tent. The rattler was plainly in
an ugly mood. He was held at the
neck by the hand OF Crouch; but the
rear part Of his body described whith-
ing curves and clutched the forearm 4
Of his owner. With u sudden wrench;
the reptile jerled hiB head loose, the
venomus head went I'D quickly. and /
then the fangs settled in the middle
finger OF Crouch's right hand. With.
a scream Crouch grabbed at & tha
snake with both hands and flung It
away from him.
The snake fell to the earth, but before
it could move Crouch, pinned it down I
with bis foot resting on the back of !:
the head. Then, recovering his COM I.
posure, he had q man to cord his fing- !.
er tightly. NJ;
at this time the rattler was sing /:
Ing mad song with his tale; his little
wicked eyes were shining devlishly; \
and he was Kissing out Of his distend-
ed mouth. .i..s
When his finger had been tightly
Dound crouch reached down and again
seized the snake by the back OF the
neck. He did not lift his foot up un- Is
I'll Ills fingers completely encircled the.
neck OF the tier and he felt that hes
could st keep his hold Then he lifted
e gheEsnaKe Z. q and stsn nned the, ,boxs
from n, which the reptile he'd been,
1s.e. taken en- 81 4 s.
Crouch had sreckoned without his
host. Inc rattier seemed possessed
OF intense strength. His big, sinuOus
oooy crept out conyulsiyely and once
more MOI ohe '1'5 COILS were on Crouch's fore /
AIM. .ss
lIe nerce head was pulled again
from Crouch's close grip, and rose
ioot aoove the wrist OF the owner.
Down came the mead or the reptile, ,
ana the rangs were buried deep In the
lorennger OF the LETT hand OF Crouch.
Oroucns ieIG arm went out. The
snake aangled Tor moment, holding
oy IT'S teeth, and then dropped.
orouch gave yell OF terror; forgot
care Ca OF MS reptile, and dashed out of
face Rnth h,e hanfo u,ar. -, te+ .a+,t, 4