30 Scientific Society ok San Antonio. 



The story, as related by Mr. Farthing-ay, who seems to be 

 utterly prostrated by the horror of the occurrence, is indeed a 

 terrible one. It appears that following a blacktailed deer the 

 two hunters found themselves near a small water course empty- 

 ing itself into the Gila, and at last struck camp for the night on 

 this creek. The weather proving rainy they sought shelter in 

 a little cavern formed by a heap of rocks, taking the precaution 

 to close its entrance with coals from their camp fire, for fear of 

 rattlesnakes, but not observing the foe within. 



Just at daylight Mr. Farthingay was awakened by something 

 that had just slidden over his prostrate body and fallen to the 

 floor of the cavern. Opening his eyes he saw the reptile-like 

 shape and snake head of one of these venomous creatures. It 

 was traveling rapidly, and before Mr. Farthingay could reach 

 his gun had encountered the sleeping form of Mr. James, whose 

 breast it attempted to climb. 



Disturbed by the touch of the animal, the unfortunate man. 

 without opening his eyes, threw up one hand to dislodge what- 

 ever it was, and catching it by the tail would have thrown it 

 from him, but the deadly teeth of the monster fixed immedi- 

 ately in his naked wrist, and though Mr. Farthingay hastened 

 at once to his friend's relief and endeavored to pull it off, it 

 held on like the grim death it was. Then, though fearing to 

 strike the man instead of the reptile, he seized his gun and fired 

 the contents into the creature's body. The monster let go its 

 grip on Mr. James and made an effort to reach this new an- 

 tagonist, but a second volley tore its head from its body. 



Mr. Farthingay now turned his attention to his friend, and 

 found that he had fainted. On being restored to consciousness 

 Mr. James complained greatly of his wrist, which he said felt 

 as if on fire, and which almost immediately began to swell. 

 Immoderate thirst now set up and fever ensued, so becoming 

 very much alarmed about his companion, Mr. Farthingay pro- 

 posed setting off at once to town to procure medical attention 

 for the wound, but Mr. James, fearing to die alone, implored 

 his friend not to leave him. 



In answer to his prayer the other agreed to await the course 

 of the trouble, and fetching water from the creek bathed the 

 wounded arm, but in less than half an hour the entire member 

 was swollen to nearly three times its natural size, and from 

 some slight discoloration assumed a deep purplish hue, nearly 

 black, in splotches about the larger blood vessels. 



Delirium now set in, and while anxious to summon assist- 

 ance, Mr. Farthingay was forced to remain to restrain the now 

 raving, shrieking man, who again and again attempted to throt- 

 tle his companion when the latter endeavored to keep him from 

 running out of the cavern to the creek. At last, worried out, 



