The Tucson Citizen

Held Spellbound by a Rattlesnake

A California Prospector Unable to Run From a Cave In.

SAN BERNARDINO, Sept. 8.—Frank Saunders, a Whittier man, stood still in the face of impending death from the caving in of a bank, being unable to move on account of the spell which a huge rattlesnake had thrown around him, and he is now under the care of a physician at Anaheim, having been perhaps fatally injured by falling earth. The accident happened in Santiago canyon, where Saunders and S. J. Adams, also of Whittier, had gone to inspect an outcropping of coal. As they were uncovering a ledge the earth above them began to split, and an immense cave-in was impending. Adams called to Saunders to leap, and himself quickly scrambled down the mountain. He supposed Saunders was following, but on looking back saw him gazing intently at the ever-widening crevice above. Adams was quick to detect the object of his companion's gaze—a big rattlesnake—which held its head steadily directed toward Saunders. The next moment several tons of earth fell, burying the hypnotized man from sight. When Saunders was exhumed he was found to be badly injured. He stated that he was all the time aware of his danger, but could not free his gaze from that of the snake and was powerless to move while the spell lasted. Adams killed the reptile after he had dug Saunders from under the fallen earth.