Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1883 — Rattlesnake Vs. Blacksnake. [ARTICLE]

Rattlesnake Vs. Blacksnake.

The rattlesnake was apparently on a journey, and the meeting was quite accidental. At first the rattlesnake sought to avoid a difficulty, but when the blacksnake pressed the matter he halted and folded his length into the coil. The blacksnake glided around in swift circles; the rattlesnake never changed hja position. But the circle still diminished its size, and as the blacksnake drew close the rattlesnake appeared to grow confused. His rattle oease to give out its sharp sound, and his head dropped as if vertigo was seizing him. The blacksnake seized, by a lightning movement, the rattler by the throat, and, winding him up in folds, the two rolled over and over together,and in a few moments the rattlesnake ceased to breathe. An examination of the dead body of the rattlesnake revealed a fracture in the spine as complete as if done by a blow with a club. The rattlesnake measured, dead, five feet and three inches. —Fort Worth Democrat »t