The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-04
NO.. z
A SNAKE CHARMER
Is Bitten by a Huge Rattlesnake
That He Was Handling.
STRUGGLES WITH REPTILE.

With the Deadly Fangs Twice Plant.
ed in His Finger the Man
Ran Swiftly to the
Hospital.
A special dispatch from Charlotte
to the Atlanta Journal says L. c.
Crouch, of Winston, N. c., is at the
Presbyterian hospital suffering from
dangerous wounds inflicted by rattle
snake, which be was exhibiting at the
fair grounds.
Mr.. Crouch is cripple, and has a
wife and seven children. A year ago
he started to collecting snakes and
other animals and exhibiting them,
and has made good living by this in
dustry. Big letters on his tent de-
clare that be has inside ground hogs,
guinea pigs, angora rabbits, Joe, a
four-legged rooster, coon, squirrels
and rattleSnakeS.
| -'StSuNN lGo AfC ldSG1Co0dNCo WV
large and three small ones. He bought
these within year from men who
captured them in their wild state.
Until Friday Crouch had handled all
his snakes with safety, though be
realized that the poison had not been
extracted from the fangs Of two Of the
large snakes.
The largest snake is over four feet
long, and has number OF rattles. Mr..
Crouch took this snake from its 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 cluuched the forearm
Of his owner. With sudden wrench
the reptile jerked his head loose, the
yenomuS head went up quickly, and
then Che fangs settled in the middle
finger of Cf0uch's right hand. With
"a scream Crouch grabbed at the
snake with both hands aeng it
away from him:
The snake fell to the earth, but before
it could move Crouch, pinned it down
with his foot resting on the back Of
the head. Then, recovering his COM
posure, be had man to cord bis fng-
er tightly.
At this time the rattler was sing
ing a mad song with his tale; his little
wicked eyes were shining devlishly,
and be was kissing out of his distend-
ed mouth.
When his finger had been tightly
bound Crouch reached down and again
seized the snake by the back Of the
neck. He did not lift his foot up un-
til his fingers completely encircled the
neck Of the rattler and be felt that he
could keep his hold. Then he lifted
the snake and stepped toward the box
from which the reptile had been
taken.
Crouch had reckoned without his
host. The rattler seemed possessed
Of intense strength. His big, sinnous
body crept out convulsively and once
more the coils were on Crouch'S fore
arm.
The fierce head was pulled again
from Crouch's close grip, and rose a
foot above the wrist Of the owner.
Down came the head Of the reptile,
and the fangs were buried deep in the
forefnger Of the left hand Of Crouch.
Crouch's left arm went out. The
snake dangled for a moment, holding
by it's teeth, and then dropped.
Crouch gave yell Of terror; forgot
care Of bis reptile, and dashed out OF
the tent with a look Of horror on his
face. Both his hands were outstretch-
ed. Though cripple, his speed was
as fast as that OF a professional sprin-
ter, and he was soon on car bound for
town. At the first sight Of bar-rooa
be bounded from the car, rushed in
crying that:he was snake bitten and
asking for whiskey. He disregarded
a small glass that was handed to him
and bonght and emptied, at one pull,
half a pint OF raw spirits. Then he
ran to the Presbyterian hospital.
by this time both Of Crouch's hands
were badly swollen; he was vomiting
and suffering great agony. Physicians
came hurriedly to bis aid, and first
gave him rapid injections Of perman-
ganate of potassium. His arms were
tightly corded for hours, the hands
being realeased in order that the
poison might not be confined to too
small portion Of the body. Crouch's
bands and arms, to the shoulders, are
several times their normal size. he
had sinking spells, and bis heart be-
came so badly affected that it was nec-
essa1y to inject strychmine repeated
ly. He will probably recover.