Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-06

he Largest Snake Yet.-As Mr.. Ella.
kin Thomas was returning on Saturday
week.. from an excursion on the CatskiIf
mountain, lie heard a great rushing among
the leaves close by and presently the starr.
ling sound of rattles, apparently ofan enor
NOUS snake. He stood momentarily upon
his guard; and it was well he did so, for on
looking about him, he presently discovered
the appalling sight Of a rattle snake, with
his head at least four feet from the ground,
mis- bo,ly coil above coil, his eyes flashing
fire, his skin every minute changing color,
and his long fangs displayed, as in the very
uctof springing upon his intended victim.
Such a sight would have stricken terror.
Einto the soul ofamost any other MIN except
the gentleman in question. Mr.: Thomas
who is an old hunter. has seen ra'tlc.snakcs
before. And as this animal always gives
tinsly warning before it strikes, SO Mr..
Thomasdid not ir the present instance, for
momcn: lose his presence ofmind.
But not to trust.himse!f too near his hon
orable but dangerous enemy, he kept at a
prudent distance and. eleyating his rifle,
which fortunately he had with him, he let
fly. charge right into the mouth of the
snake, which passing through his brain and
Out at the back of his head, he killed HIM on
the spot. Then taking hooked stick.
when he prepared for the purpose, he fas.
tened it in the very oriiice he had just made
in Mr.. Snakes skull, and thus conveniently,
but with a good deal of hard toll dragged
him 10 the village of fCatskill.
There procuring a two foot rule of car.
'pcnter he proceeded TO the measurehentof
his slain adversary, aad found its. dimen:
sons 10 be as foIlows.:. Length IL feet 9
inches circumference in the larscst part
IL inches do. round the head, 81 inches;
do. round the first rattle 8 inches ; do.
round the last, two inches ; length Of the
whole series ofrattles, 3 feet 8 inches nun.
Der. Of ra,tles, 80 length ofihe two poisou-
Gus anys 2ainches. -.
His weight was found 10 be within one :
ounce of27 pounds. And on frying out
the oil, after being duly divested OF his skin
there was found to be very nearly five
+.quarts. Tho. skin kas been stuffed. pre-.
paratory, as we understand, TO. being pres.
santcd to the American Museum, in New
York. But, whatever mag be its destina.
ton. it cannot but prove real treat to the
lovers Of natural history, whercsocvcr they
may be.
This irnmcusc snake is supposed to have
been the patriarch of all the" sarpin.s in
the Union. At any rate, he is believed to
have been the larges: ofhis species of@hic',
We have any record.
CatskiH Observer.
FlL1AL REVERENCE OF THE rURKs.-An
equally beautiful feature in the character of
the Turks, is their reverence and. respect
for the author oflheir being. Their wives
advice AM. .reprilnand are uuheeded, their
words are bosk--nothing, but their mother
is an oracle : she is consulted, con6ded in,
listened to with respect and Difference, hon.
ored to her latest hour, and remembered
with affection and regret beyond the grave.
"My wives die, and can replace them;"
says the Osmanh "my children perish,
and others may be born unto me but who
shall restore to me her who has passed away
and who.is seen no more.-City Of the
Sultan.