Battle Between A Pickerel And A Rattlesnake

Itillo Range lako is a favorito rosort for pickerol iisbormcu in Mouroo county, Pa. A party f rom Stroudsbur g were tisking thoro a few days ago. Toward Bveuiug a splashing and cominotion svas secn in the water about 100 yards From flliorc. . A boat was rowed out to tho spot, aDd it was found that the cause of the dlsturbance was a strugglo between a fcirge pickerel and a rattlesnake The pickerel had the snake between its jaws, having seized it niidway between head and rattles. The snake was at a great disadvantage, because the fish was at home uader the water, and the moment tho snake was pulled bcneath the snrface its power .vas gone. The fight seemed to be an effort on tho part of the snake to keep its hcad out of the water, and a determination on the part of the pickerel to draw its would-be victira under the water and drown it. The snake was of usual sizc, and was more than the fish could carry ofl' bodily. Tho combatants seemed to pay no attention to the spectators in th boat, which had been rówed to within three feet of them. The water was covered with blood, all of which secmed tohave been shed by the snake. Wlicn the fishermen saw that tho pickerel would conquer the snake in a short time, onc of them drew his revolver and hot it, tho ball passiug through the snake's body at tho samo lime. The rattler liad eviiicutly startcd to swim across the lake, and the pickerel, notwithstanding the great sizc of tho .serpent- iive feet long, as big around in tho middlo as a nian's wrist, and 13 rattloB- had seized it for suppcr. The pickerel vreighed fiyo pounds