Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-14
REPTILES IN DUEL TO DEATH
Big King Snake Kills Monster RattIer
In a Hard Fought Battle.

noon, which land when cleared fur.
nishes the earliest vegetables from the
south to those Of wide and deep purses
Although Mr.. Bettis has spent some
,, forty years in following his profession
he has had but few experiences with
snakes because, contrary to popular
belief, there are not many snakes In
Florida Recently he was cutting saw
palmetto when a rattler, coiled and
ready to strike, disputed his right to
disturb his eminent domain. To hesi-
tate or to retreat was to court death,
and without false move he let his
machette descend, cutting the snakes
head off and severing the snake in five
pieces as the blade went through the
coil Of the serpent.
THAT was the nearest / ever came
to being the principal character Of a
funeral" said Mr.. Bet Is, but a cou-
pie Of years ago I had scare which
set me back in growth about ten years.
was surveying low hammock when
felt something glide over my shoes
and between my legs I Jumped back,
completely frightened, must admit,
and took position on cypress stump
where I tried to locate the enemy. I
am slightly deaf, but distinguished
the spit Of a snake, and a musty odor
came to my nostrils. Soon I noticed
the small underground swaying, and I
thought from the movement that I was
in a nest Of snakes and they were bent
on attacking me. Snakes seemed to be
all around me. Occasionally I got q
glimpse Of writhing body gliding
swiftly about me-then again saw
two snakes at the same time. Looking
about, there were indications that there
were hundreds Of snakes surrounding
the stump. stood my ground for full
ly a half hour. the sweat pouring out
Of every pore-a cold, clammy sweat
I had no protection against the snakes
except a good pair Of boots.
After while things began to quiet
down and the snakes seemed to have
moved on to other haunts. I got off
my perch and, picking up a stout stick.
started about my work. had gone
but little ways when saw two i'm
mense snakes chasing each other
about. One was a rattler about feet
long and the other king snake feet
long. Those two snakes had been the
cause Of all my alarm. They were en-
gagged in a battle unto death, and had
no more thought of attacking me than
I had of meeting them.
Il wanted to get away from the sight
Of the contest, but could not. My mind
told me to beat a retreat, but my legs
would not respond to the thought. 1t
was very much like bicycle rider
who sees a rut in the road and knows
that he must steer clear Of 1t, but the
muscles Of his arm will not act In uni
son with the thought, and he goes into
the rut. knew I was In danger. The
snakes were moving this way and that
way, lodging, cutting all manner of
angles; the king chasing the rattler,
and then the rattler chasing the king.
1t was impossible for the eye to follow
their quick movements. They passed
near me-once between my legs-gee!
how I shuddered! But was glued to
the spot, fascinated by the battle royal
snakes spared for an opening-the
rattler striking viciously, the king try
ing to get hold Of the rattler's neck.
The air was nasty with odor; the backs
Of the snakes glistened as II smeared
with oil, while their eyes glistened ven
ON.
Finally the king rounded up the rat
tier. The circle became smaller and
smaller, and the rattler took his last
stand in the center Of the clearing,
coiled, and was ready for business. The
king began sparring for an opening. 1t
would glide back ten feet with eyes
fixed on those Of the rattler, which
swayed it's head from side to side to
ward Off any solar plexus blow. The
king would lie motionless for a few
seconds and then dart forward like
shot. The rattler would strike vicious
ly in the direction Of the king, which
would check its forward motion just
outside the danger zone. The fury Of
the snake was beyond words to ex-
press.
The rattler reposed In its coil-the
king Strengthened out to its full length
neither snake relaxed its glare for a
second. One minute, two minutes,
three, the suspense was telling on me.
I wanted to shout, or swab down the
snakes, or fan them, or do something
ridiculous. Four minutes-it seemed
four years-fve minutes-the kings
stare disconnected the rattler. 1t blink
ed its eyes and glanced sideways.
That eight feet Of inanimate reptile
sprung into life like large spring re-
lieved of its tension. With power in
describable 1t bowed in the middle, shot
into the air, and, with wide distended
mouth, landed on the rattler. That was
all I could see for two minutes. When
the wriggling, writhing mass, could be1
distinguished saw that the king had
grip on the rattler just behind Its
jaws. 1t was snake strength against
snake strength. At times both snakes
were posed straight into the air, with
but few inches Of their tails on the
ground. Then again they would be
twisted into a ball and rolled over and
over. and when the rattler shook of
his opponent they would lie distended
full length on the ground. Never for
second did the snakes cease their
struggles.
AT this juncture Of the fight I got
into the game. I followed the snakes
about like I was the timekeeper ready
to count out the vanquished. This
cling hold fight continued for fifteen
minutes, when the king snake, with a
quick movement, wound its body time