OAT AND RATTLESNAKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 156, 23 September 1880, Page 3

OAT AND RATTLESNAKE.

The following blood curdling tale is told by the Americus, Ga. Republican : “ About two weeks ago, during the beautiful sunny weather wo have had, which induced the trees -to bud and bloom, I was walking in my garden one morning, thinking of an early start for spring vegetables, when I saw a large rattlesnake sunning. My first impulse was to go to the house, get my gun, and kill it. But looking around I saw a very large house cat cautiously creeping upon the reptile. Anticipating a fight, and equally desirous of getting rid of the cat, which killed chickens, I concluded to witness his attack upon the snake. The cat crawled upon its stomach, pulling along its feet, whisking its tail from side to side, and every now and then stretching its neck to view the snake, When about eightijor ten feet off, the snake suddenly coiled up, sprung its rattle, faced the cat, and darted its forked tongue out rapidly. The cat commenced a rapid circle around the snake, so fast in fact that the eye could hardly keep up with it. At last it got near enough and made a dart at its enemy, but, through providential reasons, went high above the snake, which also struck at the cat, thus breaking its coil. The cat went too far, and by the time it turned to face its foe the reptile was again coiled, and ready for the attack. The same method was adopted and carried on for four or five times, occupying at least half an hour. The cat wished to catch the snake, but seemed aware that if it missed the neck it would be certain death. At the sixth assault thej T met, and instantly the snake was wrapped in several folds around the body of the cat, which used its sharp claws with deadly effect. The cat had been bitten on the head and neck several times, and both continued to fight. The snake was torn nearly to shreds, but did not unloose its coil around its victim. The poison was swift and deadly, but before the cat died it caught the snake’s head in its mouth, and crushed it, and fighting they died, the snake enwrapping the cat in its coils. The snake measured four feet eight inches, and had thirteen rattles.