Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-09-18
THE RATTLE.SNAKE HUNT.
"Until my ghastly tale is told
This heart within me burns"
Rhyme of the .Ancient Mari,


During a delightful excursion in the
vicinity Of the Green Mountains, few
years since, l had the good fortune to
meet with a singular character, known
in many parts Of Vermont as the Rattle
snake Hunter. 1t was a warm, clear
day of sunshine, in the middle Of June,
that saw him for the first time, while
eng aged in minerologic ramble among
the hills. His head was bald, and his
forehead was deeply marked with the
strong lines ofcare g. age. His form was
wasted and meagre; and but for the fiery
vigor Of his eye, he might have been
supposed incapacitated by age and mfr
mites, for even slight exertion. Yet
he hurried over the rude lodges of rock,
with quick and almost youthful tread; !;
and seemed earnestly searching among
the crevices and loose crags and stinted
bushes around him. All at once, he
started suddenly--drew himself back
with a sort Of shuddering recoil-and
then smote fierccly upon the rock before
him. Another and another blow-nnd
he lifted the 1.-the and crushed the form
of large Rattlesnahe upon the end of
his rod.
The old mans eye glistened, bat lis
lip trcmbled as he looked steadlastly up
on his wet wrihng victim.
4 "Another Of the accursed racew he
muttered between his clenched teeth, ap-
parently unconscious Of my presence.
was now satisfied that the person be-
fore me, was none other than the famous
Rattlesna Hunter. He was known
throughout the neighborhood, as an out
cast and wanderer, obtaining a miser-
able subsistence from the casual chari-
ties of the people around him. His time
was most spent among the rocks and rude
hills, where his only object seemed to
be the hunting out and destroying of the
dreadful Crotalus horridus, or Rattle
snake. l Immediately determined to
satisfy curiosity which had been strange
ly excited by the remarkable appearance 6
and behaviour Of the stranger and for
this purpose | approached him.
/ care thero many Of these reptiles in
this vicinity" l enquired, pointing to the
crushed serpent.
I "They are getting TO be scarce" said
the old man, lifting his slouched hat ane
wiping his bald brow; 81 have knowr
the time when you could hardly stir ter
rods from your door, in this part Of the
State, without hearing their low, quicl
rattle at your side, or seeing their many
colored bodies coiled up in your path.-
But, as l said before, they are getting t.
be scarce-the Internal race will be ex
tinct in few years-and thank God
; have myself been considerable cause
Of their determination"
"You must Of course know the natur,
Of these creatures perfectly WE'LL" salt
L. "Do you believe in their power o
fascination or charming"
The old man 8 countenance fell. Their,
was visible struggle Of feeling within
him; for his lip quivered and he dashe,
: his brown hand suddenly across his eye
as if to conceal a tear. But quickly re
covering himself, he answered in tn,
: low, deep voice Of one about to revea
some horrible secret
81 believe in the Rattle snakes pow
er Of fascination, as believe in my ow
existence"
u "Surely," said ], "you do not believ
that they have power over human be
ings"
IL dol know il TO be so"-and tn
old man tremblod as he spoke. "Yo
are stranger to me-" he said slowly
after scrutinizing my features for a mo
ment,-"but if you will go down with m
to the foot Of this rock, in the shad
there, ,"-and pointed to a group Of lean
ing oaks that hung over the declivity,-
81 will tell you a strange and sad stor.
Of my own experience"