A Deadly Encounter in the Great Dismal Swamp
On the morning of July 18, 1901, 35-year-old Grant Wilkins was working deep inside Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp. He was cutting down cedar trees to earn money, but the job was far from easy. The heat was intense, the humidity made breathing difficult, and mosquitoes, ticks, venomous snakes, and bears made the swamp a dangerous place to work.
Grant had no idea that one of those dangers would eventually cost him his life.
After spending hours cutting down a large cedar tree, he decided to take a short lunch break. He ate a can of sardines, drank a bottle of beer, and leaned against another tree to rest.
But his short break turned into a long nap. While he slept with his mouth open, a venomous snake approached him, attracted by the smell of the sardines.
What happened next was an unusual and horrifying chain of events.
Why Grant Wilkins Was Working in the Swamp
Before becoming a lumberjack, Grant had a much better-paying job as a longshoreman. His work involved loading and unloading cargo ships at Virginia’s ports.
He enjoyed the job and earned enough money to support himself. But earlier in 1901, he became involved in a strike that changed his financial situation.
The Longshoremen’s Strike Left Him Without Income
Hundreds of longshoremen in Virginia, including Grant, went on strike without pay.
At first, Grant supported the decision. He believed the strike would help workers achieve their demands.
But the strike continued without producing meaningful results. Its leadership appeared to make little progress, while the workers remained without wages.
Grant eventually became frustrated. He wanted to return to work because he needed money, but he could not simply undo his decision to join the strike.
By then, he had spent his savings and needed another source of income.
Finding Work as a Lumberjack
Grant started cutting cedar trees in the Great Dismal Swamp.
The work involved cutting down trees, taking the lumber home, and processing it into smaller pieces. He made products such as roof shingles and sold them to earn money.
Although the income helped him pay his bills, the work was physically demanding.
The swamp was also an unpleasant place to spend long hours. The extreme heat, thick humidity, insects, and dangerous wildlife made every working day difficult.
Still, Grant had little choice. He needed the money.
A Difficult Morning Cutting Cedar Trees
On July 18, Grant was working on a large cedar tree.
He repeatedly swung his axe into the trunk, removing it after each strike and hitting the same area again.
The heat made the work even harder. Sweat covered his face and neck, while mosquitoes continued to bite him.
He also had to remain alert for ticks, venomous snakes, and bears.
After considerable effort, he finally heard the tree begin to crack.
Grant stepped back as the enormous cedar tree fell to the ground.
He had completed a difficult part of his job and felt relieved. But he was also exhausted.
Instead of immediately continuing his work, he decided to stop for lunch.
How a Simple Lunch Turned Into a Fatal Mistake
Grant sat near the fallen cedar tree and leaned against another standing tree.
He took out the food he had brought with him: a can of sardines and a bottle of beer.
It was not an enjoyable meal. The sardines tasted strongly of fish, and the beer was flat. But it was what he could afford.
After finishing his lunch, Grant prepared to return to work.
However, he decided to rest for a few minutes first.
Grant Fell Asleep With His Mouth Open
Grant leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes.
He was already exhausted from hours of cutting wood. The beer also contributed to his sleepiness.
What he intended to be a short rest quickly turned into a deep nap.
Before long, he was sleeping heavily, with his arms and legs crossed and his mouth wide open.
He had no idea that an animal was approaching him.
A Snake Was Attracted by the Smell of Sardines
The smell of the sardines had attracted a dangerous visitor.
A large, jet-black venomous snake, measuring approximately four and a half feet long, began moving toward Grant.
As he slept, the snake slithered up his body and entered his open mouth.
Grant did not wake up.
According to the account, the snake continued down his throat and eventually reached his stomach, where the remaining sardines were.
The sleeping lumberjack was completely unaware of what was happening.
The Other Lumberjack Who Discovered Grant
A few hours later, another lumberjack entered the same part of the Great Dismal Swamp.
He was searching for suitable trees to cut down when he noticed a large cedar tree lying on the ground.
It appeared to have been abandoned, so he decided to approach it.
But as he got closer, he noticed another man sitting nearby.
It was Grant Wilkins.
Something Looked Wrong With the Sleeping Man
Grant was sitting against a standing cedar tree.
His arms and legs were crossed, his head rested against the trunk, and his mouth was wide open.
His tongue appeared to be hanging out.
The other lumberjack found his sleeping position unusual. For a moment, he considered calling out to wake him and check whether he was all right.
Then he noticed something moving inside Grant’s mouth.
He stepped closer to get a better look.
What he initially thought was Grant’s tongue was not a tongue at all.
It was the tail of a large snake.
The Snake Had Entered Grant’s Body
The discovery revealed a horrifying situation.
The snake had entered Grant’s mouth while he was sleeping and had travelled down his throat.
By the time the other lumberjack found him, Grant was already dead.
The snake had blocked his airway, preventing him from breathing. He ultimately suffocated.
The lumberjack had arrived too late to help him.
What Happened to the Snake?
The snake was eventually pulled out of Grant’s body.
Even more surprisingly, it was still alive.
After its encounter with Grant, the snake managed to escape and slither away into the swamp.
It had apparently reached its food, the sardines Grant had eaten earlier, before leaving the scene.
For Grant, however, there was no escape.
A man who had entered the swamp to earn money through difficult physical labour had lost his life during what should have been an ordinary lunch break.
Conclusion: A Tragic Story From the Great Dismal Swamp
Grant Wilkins went into the Great Dismal Swamp on July 18, 1901, expecting another difficult day of cutting cedar trees.
His financial problems had forced him to leave his well-paid longshoreman job and take up exhausting work in the wilderness.
After finally bringing down a large tree, he stopped to eat sardines and drink beer. Exhaustion caused him to fall asleep against another tree.
That simple decision became fatal.
The story describes an unusual encounter between a sleeping lumberjack and a venomous snake, ending in Grant’s death and the snake’s escape.
It also serves as a reminder of how dangerous working in remote wilderness areas could be, especially when workers faced harsh weather, wildlife, and difficult working conditions.