Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-11-20
LIZARD VERSUS SNAKE.
BATTLE BETWEEN GlLA MON.
STER AND BIG RATHER.
Former Gains Victory BY Quick
Clever Work-DeadIy Revenge
Of the House Cat.

To- "
The "rattlesnake season" this yea,
In the southwest was unusually de
structive OF life and was marked by
some startling and dramatic incidents
1t is estimated that some so deaths
from snake bites have occurred this
season in the plains country and In
the mountain regions of New Mexico
Arizona and Texas. New York
Worlds Dalhart, Tex. correspondent
writes. r.. ~.
e. B. Van Veen OF the Pinal noun
tain district tells of a fight between
rattlesnake and gila monster. Bob
Henry. on returning from his camp
by the Pinal mountain road. was at
tracted by the sound Of a rattlesnake
Turning. he saw q RATHER about seven
feet long and three feet away gila
monster sitting on an ant hill. The
snake stood up from the ground high
er than a mans knee in the shape OF
an elongated S. The remainder of his
body was upon the ground behind him
In straight line. In addition to rat
thing, a kissing sound issued from his
mouth. The gila was standing up as
high from the ground as his short
legs would permit. His tensed at
titude indicated that trouble was
ahead. Suddenly the snake sprang
at the big lizard. but it eyaded the
ftroke by fattening itself on the
ground. The snake drew himself UP
again and struck again and missed
The third time the snake drew back
and struck, but the lizard was two
inches to the right. The snake start
ed to draw hack for another attempt
when the gila monster made light
ning-like plunge and the next instant
the back Of the rattlesnake's neck was
In the bulldog jaws Of the eighteen
inch lizard, which was shaking it like
rat. Several times the lizard was
thrown violently into the air and as
often it was dragged on the dusty
road. with its feet vatnly attempting
to find a hold But the jaws held
tight, and in two or three minutes, the
snake lay dead on the ground.
From Flagstaff, Ariz., comes the
story OF John Gustafson, who, bitten
in the palm of the right hand by a
rattlesnake at Russell's mining camp
, In the Copper Basin district has fully
recovered. Not only that, but inocu.
lation with the deadly venom has
cured insomnia, from which Gustafson
had been sufferer for five years.
Mr.. and Mrs J. T. Nelson of Jerome
Junction, Ariz., vouch for q story told
of fight between house cat and q
rattlesnake. The cat. the mother OF
six kittens, was perambulating among
the little mounds of prairie dog
town when she was attacked by a rat.
tier and bitten on the cheek. She re.
tired to her nest under the house and
for several days her head was swol.
len to several times its normal size,
AS soon as she recovered, she set out
In the direction OF the prairie dog town
and an hour later returned to the
house with a big dead rattlesnake In
her mouth and showing evidence OF q
hard fight.
Near Bisbee. Ariz., Alfred Kinney
seventeen years old, encountered .
r1ILleI ny ZIG XOdOSluo oAu rOoSSAOS
with It, After the snake, apparently
stunned by the repeated strokes from
the boys riding whip, retreated to Its
lair and the boy was preparing to
mount his horse, 1t sneaked out Of
the hole and bit the boy and he died
few hours later.
The eighteen-months-old son OF Mr.
and Mrs. Max Otto Of skidmore, Tex.
was bitten by large rattler and died
within few hours.
Samuel Dunlep of Comanche. Tex
while on visit to his farm in Miles
county, discovered two large rattle
snakes in pile Of brush and under
took to capture them alive. He pro
cured large fishing cord and placed
them in a noil key and took them to
Comanche ard placed them on exhibi
ton. Each had seven rattles and q
button. 81.