The Recorder, Or, Lady's And Gentleman's Miscellany

On Saturday last, between 11 and 12 o'clock, as a son of Mr. John Nichols, of Preston, in Connecticut, was wandering in a neighboring swamp in search of swamp-apples, he suddenly discovered the bushes in a tremulous motion around him. Turning himself, he perceived a monstrous serpent, already in the attitude of springing upon the defenceless child. Frightened, the astonished lad ran with speedy steps to his father's house, and alarmed an elder brother, who immediately hastened with a loaded gun to the horrid scene. Observing a number of birds fluttering in the thicket, uttering distorted notes, he proceeded with caution into the bushes, where he soon got sight, at the distance of about two rods, of this monstrous reptile. He immediately aimed at him, but unfortunately his gun missed fire three successive times; on hearing the snap of the piece, the snake immediately made towards him; he retreated out of the swamp in order to hammer his flint; which having completed, he returned a second time to the charge. He again discovered him at the distance of only a few feet, coiled in a circle, his head elevated 12 or 14 inches above the earth in a springing posture. Finding no alternative, but to "kill or be killed," he immediately snapped his piece: but it still missed fire. Taking courage, therefore, for a last effort, he again levelled, and was so fortunate as to discharge the contents effectually into his coil. The shot cut him into three pieces; and on a measurement he was found to be 7 feet 6 inches in length, and 15 inches in circumference! He was of the rattle snake breed, having a white ring round his neck.