Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-08-29
From the Boston Ercning Journal.
THE RATTLESNAKE.

II Il h!A 1 LIZ S-NAAL.
This snake is peculiar. we believe, TO
North Amrrica-and was f,rmerl found
in great abundance in New England-bul
since the country has become settled -
aud an exterminating war declared against
these noxious reptiles, their numbers have
rapidly decreased und now they are sell
dom seen. They are still 10 be found,
however. occasionally, we believe, in GER
lain paris of every New Eng land state
but ner,lly coufine themselves to. rocky
lednes in uncultivated tracts of the country
In Chester, n. II d. there is a hill which as
rhev formerly made it their abiding place,
is called Ratlesnake Hill. A few still re-
main; and they are sometimes Killed IN
the adjoining towns, where they wander in
search OF water.
A number of years have passed away
since an occurrence took place in the neigh
borhood of Chester, Which certainly was
the occasion of considerable excitement in
the neiehboring families at the time, and
" Ilich is still worth relating. Some men
were employed in moving meadow,
which was distance from dwelling or
rnAd-and as the weather was sultry, and
man, paris of the meadow ct vered with
water. one oflhen, Mir. r.. thought proper
10 divesl himself of rarly all his garments,
and the vau ofIhe mowers sans cutoHe:
If j. we'll known that at this SEASON, when
drought generally prevailS,rallesnakes are
very APT 10 romr down from the high lands
i'm quest Of water aud as Mr.. Z. got at
the eud uf his swath, and stepped on the
dry laud. he placed his foot almost in con-
tact with huge rattle snake, which raised
Install, gave ii few quick aud sharp
shakes, and sprung al the poor man uSt as
he turned to flee, half frightened to death,
from tIr vennrnnu> reptilel Hi> crooked
pulsnnuus tlnes entered the lower part of
the ONLY garment which MIR. K. wore at
the rrnr-lhe texture o which was par
tIrularly srIng, anu they could MOI be ca
silly disenyaged. Mr.. r. gave a ser, am
and started on the full run, the snake
slickiug 10 him closer Than Il brther. He
passed through woDds. bushes, fields, and
pa,tures-he crossed fences, bitches, brooks
aud huss-he Jumped, haIIoed, salIuped,
and screamed for aId-vainIy trying TO rid
hinSeIfoi his usIy Looking associate. At
length, crazy with fear aud fatigue, he
reached the public road, and passed along,
it, on The way to his dwelling hnuse. at IA
rate which would have astonished the most
desperate notwithstanding behind him
at Intervals, aud screaming, whenever he
beheId the horrid appendage to his home
spun linen garment. He passed several
persons la the road, who were thunder
struck at the sight of the unfortunate man
cutting up such antics. using sucn violent
exercise-aud exhibiting himself in disha-
bile, without regard to propriery or decen-
cy. Mr.. R. at leugth reached his own
dwelling, distance of three miles from
the neadow-lhe door of which stood in
virngly open, through which he rushed to
the CONSERVATION of the women folks
having still attached to hin the grimlook-
ins reptile-Bylhis time he was complete
~ overcome with terror, heat, and fatigue,
and fell tantine ON the floor. The poor
raltlesnake. however had 90, the worst Of
i,--aud had been threshed about at such
an unmereiful rate, that his life. as we'll as
Iarg" portion of his lail, had departed,
long before he reached the goal!