Italian Hunter Pursued by Sixteen Rattlesnakes is Bitten by One in Finger and Acts as Own Surgeon.
Newburgh, N. Y., Oct. 24.- Arthur J. Sarventi, a well-to-do cigar dealer of this place, went to Pike county, Pennsylvania, last week in quest of deer. One day, a short distance from Eldred, while following some deer, he came across sixteen rattlesnakes sunning themselves on a rock. As he approached the two largest started for him. Sarventi shot the foremost and in endeavoring to get away, he slipped and fell on his right hand. The snake which was near him at once struck his hand, puncturing his forefinger, just above the second joint.
Sarventi realized the situation, and as soon as he could get a safe distance took his hunting knife, cut open the finger and sucked the poison out. He hired a rig, drove to Eldred and had his hand attended to by a physician. By this time the hand and arm had swollen to great size. A day or two afterward with his guide he visited the big rock, found the snakes in the sun, killed the big snake that had bitten him and captured the entire family of fourteen snakes, which the guide says are about 6 months old.
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