The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-06-10
THE KING SNAKE.

There is a large speckled snake called by COM
mon usage in the southern states, the King Snake,
perhaps because he is the most formidable enemy OF
the fatal rattle snake. 1t to be the chief OBJ
ect of his existence, to SEEK to pursue and to des-
troy the latter whose retreats and presence are dis
coverabe by the emission of peculiar smell resem-
bling that of a cucumber vine. The King Snake, to
almost all other animals, is the most gentle and
harmless OF creatures you may strike him, he shows
no resentment, he misses not he turns not, does
he exhibit any terror or sluggishness. Drawn by
the smell of the cucumber, he frequently enters
gardens, but his appearance excites no alarm in
any human being that knows he is the King Snake
on the contrary, woman and children will approach
him, and turn him about with stick, and playfully
annoy him, with perfect impunity he is only the
relentless enemy of the rattle snake, whose strength
and venom avail nothing against the activity and
mode OF attack Of the King Snake, who is always
victor in every combat.
Yet the Rattle Snake is a terrible reptile. There
is peculiarly truly appalling in the sound of his
rattle, being unlike the noise of any other creature
and when you hear it, the first time, the true
instinct OF nature impresses on your quaing heart,
that danger and death are near. Never shall for
get one horrid event of my life II was fishing in
southern lake one summer day when unusual
disposition to sleep affected me. struck the ends
ofmy fishing rod in the bank of the lake, and sough,
beautiful place of shade to enjoy repose. / laid
myself on the grass between two trees scarcely six
feet apart from each other my head resting against
one and my feet against the other. slept. When
awoke, turned on one side and perceived at some
distance from me, two brilliant humid orbs and in
stantly tremulous, mingled sensation of an indie
Unable naturaGame upon my faculties. Something
OF an instructive dictate, or impulse, counselled me
to avert my looks, but then there was such an abb
;n,an "i,;n n - , o"r'n@ into ewes; that
my frame and | remained so fascinated that l could
see nothing but the most beautiful colors In short
was so totally lost, so completely bewildered with
emotions, that was absolutely power
less, and | could not withdraw my gaze, nor even
move Suddenly, the melting eyeballs glared with
sparks of fre-there was n movement-I started
from dreamy state--I huge rattle snake
lis gaze disturbed and when heard the hate
ul rattle sound, the full danger of my situation
aroused me, and through all my frame, felt the
rcmy of terror and just as was on the point of
obeying phrenzicd impulse to rise and fly, felt
Inc deadly reptile, as / thought, coiing around my
neck saw part of his body-I felt the shiny skin
upon my neck and the shver of horror went through
every joint and member of my frame. Such feel
ing of agony my eye balls filled with scorching
fre-first red-next yellowish green. Oh there are
moments of existence which involve the sensations
of years, and when the whole detail of thousand
feelings scarcely occupy the bret space OF leisure
thought Nature could endure more, and lost
all sense.
AT length had the painful tingling sensation of
life through my VEINS and when in full
consciousness arose from the earth, saw near me
TRANQUILITY and quietly, living King Snake, and
farther off the llteess length of tremendous Rattle
snake. l sat upon log and reflected, and l am
now satisfied that the King Snake had crept over
my neck to my rescue, there being large log on
one side, and the lake the other, so that his
est route to his enemy was over my body But al
though my life was provdentially preserved yet the
effects of that are the exhaustion of great
portion of my cxcitabiliy, and the introduction of
grey hairs and premature debility, in all my powers
of mind and body.-Anecdotes Of the South.