The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-08-06

Deen aroused He Sprang at the wire
screen, with the evident intention of
striking the keeper on the outside
The party loitered there for mo-
ment, never dreaming that a scrap
was to take place Then short visit
to other parts of the farm was made
Snake Combat.
On returning it was found that the
bull and the RATHER had gotten into
a row and were engaged in mortal
combat. The spectators crept close
to the box, that they might be
able to record the points of the fight,
and learn something of the fighting
ethics of bull snakes and rattlers, yet
were afraid to go too near lest they
might divert the attention of the
snakes from the business in which
they were engaged. The rattler had
chosen the sunny corner, with his
back to the sun, in which to defend
himself, and the bull snake occupied
the shady corner. The sun shone
into the bulls eyes and rather dag
zled him. Occasionally he would
creep back, as if to seek the
shelter of. the shade. Then after
moments rest he would cautiously
move towards the rattler. The rat
tier, never removing his glittering
eyes from his foe, would straighten
up and shake his rattle, preparing
to strike. For an instant before he
struck one could tell that he was go
ing to. The bull snake knew it, too,
for with a sudden dart of his head,
he would draw a strike from the
in, 10
avoid the poisoned fangs of his foe.
The sun apparently played the
dickens, however, with the bull snake,
for he acted as if it blinded him, and
when the RATHER struck with move
ment as quick as lightning, the bull
made for the corner which the RATHER
had occupied, and succeeded in rout-
ing him from the vantage point. The
bull snake did not make the corner,
however, without paying the penalty,
for in passing, without waiting to
coil, the RATHER struck and succeeded
in burying his fangs in the body of the
bull. There is common saying that
a RATHER cannot strike unless he is
coiled This RATHER was not coiled-
he didn't have time to coil-and
proved beyond doubt that, under GER
tain conditions the RATHER can and
will strike in any position.
The RATHER, now forced to take the
sunny side, was bothered in turn by
the sun. He retreated to the ex-
IRENE corner of the box. Slowly, the
bull worked his way toward the rat
tier He was bleeding from the
mouth, from wounds received from
striking the cage, and blood was ooz-
ing from the wound where the rat
tiers fangs had entered. He finally
drew another strike from the RATHER,
but, anticipating the attack withdrew
and the RATHER, carried forward by his
own momentum, measured his length
on the floor of the box. Quick as a
flash, the bull made a lunge at the
rattler's neck He succeeded in
him, but apparently did not
get a secure hold, for he quickly re-
treated to his corner. The RATHER
also retired again and they remained
in their respective corners for four or
five minutes, acting very much like
two little boys defying each other,
one rafting, the other Kissing
Perhaps they we're resting
Presently the bull advanced very
slowly. The RATHER was all atten-
riveted on the bull There was no
his interest in the mill. One
could hardly perceive the stealthy
of the bull, yet the RATHER
was aware of each advance. Slowly
the bull drew nearer and, when al
most within reach, his mouth open
and making a Missing sound, again I
drew the RATHER on to strike. Again
the willy bull avoided the threatening /
fangs, and no sooner had the RATHER I
struck, than the bull snake caught /
him by the neck.
Then the struggle began. Cling |
ng to the RATHER, the bull snake slow
" wound and wound himself about I
him. The RATHER tried to break the |
hold the bull had on his neck, but, [
.ry as he might, he could not bulge 4
The deadly grasp. Slowly, but sure {
", the bull was Strengthening the rat
Ter out Finally both snakes were
their whole length. You +
,ould see the bull tighten up. The
-attler wriggled in his efforts to re-
sist the squeezing. Thus they re-
NAMED until it grew so dark that the
straining eyes of the spectators could
no longer see what was going on.
To ali appearances, however, the bull /
was slowly. but surely, crushing the
life out of the RATHER, and the on
COOKERS departed convinced that the
pull had whipped.
The morning showed this to be
rue When Albert Mason went to (
he farm at an early hour, he found
he RATHER stone dead and the bull
make coiled up in corner looking
ust as if nothing had happened.
The bull snake showed no Ill eff
ects from the bite of the RATHER, and
dr. Mason, who is an authority on
iuch matters, says it will have no i'll
.ffnc+ on him