Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-09-14
BITTEN BY RATHER
Experience of Oregon Stockman
While at Spring.
Struck on Right Arm Between Wrist
and Elbow by Snake, Man Makes
Desperate Run for Medical
Assistance.

Antelope, Ore.-William j. McGreer,
who three weeks ago was bitten by a
rattlesnake and all bat lost his life, is
one of the few men in Oregon who
have received severe bites and been
able to describe in detail how 1t felt
McGreer was riding the range for
horses eight miles east of Antelope.
He is a Clarno (Ore.) stockman. He
dismounted at spring to drink and
was bitten in the arm. He has near
ly recovered, and his story, as printed
in Crook county newspapers is as fol-
lows:
"Oh, yes, I'm getting along all right;
but the snake died as a result of his
indiscretion. I've ridden the range so
long that no reptile that bites me can
survive.
you can say for me-and I'm an ex-
pert now-that rattlers don't always
rattle before they strike. This one
didn't. | had just got into position to
drink from the spring in Galliger con-
yon when the cuss struck me on the
right arm between the wrist and ell
bow. 1t felt as though some one had
given my arm hard jerk. The snake
hung on by his fangs l knocked him
off with my left hand and killed him.
He had six rattles and was about IS
inches long
II Immediately tore my handkerchief
into strips and bound the arm tight
ly at wrist and elbow. reached for
my knife, expecting to cut the wound.
When l found l did not have 1t with
me, / was scared. My arm did not
pain me then-it was in between my
shoulders. That negro was right who
said 1t was no disgrace to run when
yo's scairt,' so l got on my horse and
lit out for Antelope, about eight miles
away. BY the time l reached a mud
hole, about a mile from the spring,
was having excruciating pains all over
my body, as though my muscles were
all contracting. | dismounted and
plunged my swelling arm into the
mud.
81 think / must have been crazed by
the pain, for here / turned my horse
loose and started on foot for Billy Ma
The only thing | remember from the
time I left the mud hole till l got to
| Malone's house, was eating tobacco.
My chaps were found later about two
miles from the spring, but my hat
hasn't been found yet.
THE horse | was riding was a good
one, and If l had stuck to him he
| would bava Iopdad mo II, Apto1Ono In
! 90 minutes from the time was struck
However, as soon as | arrived at
! Malone's ranch John Malone cut open
! the wound and Jack Brogan sucked
/ out as much of the poison blood as he
! could. Undoubtedly this service Is all
/ that saved my life until DR. Bower ar
rived from Antelope, which was about
! 10 minutes after they telephoned for
him. a drummer (whose name | do
not know, but who has my sincere
! thanks), brought the doctor out in an
automobile.
1T was some time after the doctor
arrived until he got my arm to bleed
! ing. l was suffering indescribable ag-
ony and my arm was swollen to an i'm
|
color. DR.. Bower worked with me all
night and | understand took two quarts
of blood from my arm. The doctor and
Jack Brogan took me to Antelope the
next morning, where the treatment
was continued through the day My
brothers, George and Ed, had come
over from Clarno and looked after me
during that night, and then l was un-
der the care of two trained nurses
from The Dalles.
II believe I was bitten about seven
o'clock and arrived at Malone's about
$50. So it was at least two and a
half hours before ! received medical
attention"