Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1879 — WILD LIFE. [ARTICLE]

WILD LIFE.

Some Stories About Wild Beasts, Serpents and the Like. AN AVERAGE RATTLESNAKE'S APPETITE. [From the Fort Payne (Ala.) Journal.] A rattlesnake was killed at Red Hill that swallowed two rabits, one frog, and two mice. [From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.] Dick Roberts, of Dent county, killed a rattle-snake with fifteen rattles. It contained five young rabbits about onefourth grown, and a full-grown mouse. A CHICKEN SNAKE GOBBLES A TURKEY'S NEBT. [From the Dallas (Texas) Herald.] The other day, on the farm of a citizen named Wallace, in Grayson county, a six-foot chicken snake coiled itself in a turkey nest while the old hen sat thereon, swallowed all the eggs and a door-knob besides, which happened among the eggs. A CHILD KILLED BY A BAT. [From the Ellsworth (Kan.) Times.] Joseph Simmons, merchant tailor, of this place, was awakened on Monday morning by the crying of his 2-months-old child. He turned up the light and saw a large rat leap from the bed. The child’s face had been cmelly bitten; and the poor baby died on Monday. AN ALLIGATOK’s APPETITE. [From the Orlando (Fla.) Beporter. ] C. R. 'finer brought into our office, last week, a flint r bout two inches across and a half in,ch thick, and a lightwood knot, which he took from the stomach of an alligator killed by him about two months ago. His ’gatorship measured a iittle over fourteen feet in- length. A SNAKE WITH A HEAD AT BOTH ENDS. [From the da.re de Grace (Md.) Republican.] One day last week Mr. Will Bosley, while at work on his farm at Oakington, Harford county, discovered a black snake, which he made haste to kill. On examining the reptile, after he bad killed it, it was found to measure four feet in length and had two heads, one on each end, and both regularly proportioned. The animal was noticed to run backward, and Mr. B. says it could go as fast one way as the other. This would have been a sight for Barnum.

ATTACKED BY A WILD CAT. TFrom the Sri Joseph (Mo.) Gazette.] On Wednesday night of last week Josiah A. Dean, residing nine miles northwest of Perryville, was awakened by the barking of his dog, and, donning his clothing, he went out to see what was the matter. He no sooner arrived upon the ground than the dog deserted the field, when a large wild cat attacked him. After considerable fighting Mr. Dean put the cat to flight, though at one time the vicious animal threatened to be master of the situation. THE TEAKETTLE AS A WEAPON AGAINST SNAKES. [From the Easton (Md.) Ledger.] Mrs. James H. Wooters, living near Manassas, Trappe district, had an encounter with snakes a few days ago that would have tried the stoutest heart, even of the masculine gender. Entering her hen-house she saw a huge black snake, between five and six feet long, which she attacked and killed. Looking around she saw two others about the same size on the joists above her. Having a greater love of her chickens than fear of snakes, she went to the house, procured some boiling water, and, throwing it upon them, brought them to the ground. These she also killed after a desperate fight, and then escaped unhurt. Few women, or even men, but would have let their snakeships severely alone.

CATCHING FISH WITH A RAKE. [From the Danbury (Ct) Republican.] For about two weeks the shores of the pond at New Fairfield have been lined with men and boys, both night and day, armed with fishpails and spears, the occasion being ttie opening of the bullhead season, in numbers such as were never seen before. On some of the recent rainy days the banks of the pond were lined with teams and single rigs, boys on foot and boys on horseback, all ready for piscatorial action. The number of fish seemed to be incredible—one man waded into the water and with an iron rake hauled them ashore by the scorces. Others being unprovided with tackle have killed them with stones, or caught them with their hands. A party of three persons in one day took nearly 500 of them. It is estimated that in one day about I,OOiJ bullheads were taken from these waters.

WOMAN KILLED BY A PANTHER. [From the L ttle Rock ( rk.) Gazette.] Mr. G. F. Martin, just returned to the city from a trip down the country, tells us of a terrible affair which occurred several days ago near the Warren and Pine Bluff road, about fifteen miles, east of Pine Bluff. A woman, whose name Mr. Martin has forgotten, went out to pick blackberries. Not returning, search was made in every direction and inquiry made at every house in the neighborhood, but no intelligence could be obtained in regard to the woman’s whereabouts. Finally, after loug search, she was found near a briar thicket literally torn to pieces. Almost her entire flesh was stripped from her bones. The opinion of the people is that she was killed by a panther. Those animals are not strangers in that neighborhood, and almost nightly their screams are heard.