The Cairo bulletin., 1912-12-01
LIZARD VERSUS SNAKE
BATTLE BETWEEN GlLA MON.
STER AND BIG RATHER. Il
Former Gains Victory by Quick,
Clever Work-Dsadly Revenge
OF the House Cat.

The "rattlesnake season" this year
In the southwest was unusually de-
structive OF life and was marked by
come startling and dramatic incidents.
1t is estimated that some so deaths
from snake bites have occurred this
Feason in the plains country and in
the mountain regions of New Mexico.
Arizona and Texas, New York
Worlds Dalhart, Tex, correspondent
writes.
e. B. Van Veen of the Pinal noun
tain district tells of fight between
rattlesnake and a gila monster. Bob
Henry. on returning from his camp
by the Pinal mountain road, was at
tracted by the sound OF rattlesnake
Turning. he cav RATHER about seven
feet long and three feet away a gila
monster sitting on an ant hill. The
snake stood up from the ground high
err than a mans knee in the shape OF
an elongated S. The remainder of his
body was upon the ground behind him
in a straight line. In addition to rat
Ting, 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 evaded the
stroke 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 back for another attempt
when the gila monster made light.
ning-like plunge and the next instant
the back of the rattesnakes neck was
In the bulldog jaws of the eighteen
inch lizard, which was shaking it like
a rat. Several times the lizard was
thrown violently into the air and as
often 1t was dragged on the dusty
road, with its feet vainly 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
ra.tlesnake 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 story told
of fight between house cat and a
rattlesnake The cat. the mother of
Fix kittens, was perambulating among
the little mounds OF a 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 !
n the direction of the prairie dog town
md an hour later returned to the
house with big dead rattlesnake In
1er mouth and showing evidence of a
lard fight.
Near Bisbee, Ariz,, Alfred Kinney,
seventeen years old, encountered a
'attler by the roadside and battled
with 1t. After the snake, apparently
by the repeated strokes from
he boys riding whip, retreated to its
air and the boy was preparing to
mount his horse, it sneaked out OF
he hole and bit the boy and he died
/ few hours later.
The eighteen-months-old son Of Mr.
md Mrs. Max Otto Of Skidmore, Tex,
vas bitten by a large rattler and died
within a few hours.
Samuel Dunlap Of Comanche, Tex,
While on a visit to his farm in Miles
county, discovered two large rattle
makes in a pile of brush and under
ook to capture them alive. He pro-
ured large fishing cord and placed
hem in nail keg and took them to
'omanche and placed them on exhibit
ion. Each had seven rattles and
uttOn