MARKSWOMAN - Mrs. Grady Paine had never shot a gun in her life. After all, she had never had to - being only 19 years old. One day in the fall of 1943, all of the men were away from the R.H. Paine farm. A group of girls ran to the Paine house and told Mrs. Paine of the presence of a large rattlesnake. Mrs. Paine ran down to the edge of the woods to confirm the story. She stationed the girls as sentries at a safe distance to watch the movement of the hated animal. Mrs. Paine grabbed a shotgun and started to the door, when she was informed that the gun was loaded with birdshot and that she needed a more deadly shell. The girls pointed out the location of the snake. Mrs. Paine took aim. She fired a direct and fatal shot. The men folk returned and discovered that the snake had seven rattles. They claimed the lady had set a record for killing a snake on her first shot. We do know one thing - at least she tied the world record. Dublin Courier Herald, October 16, 1943.
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