The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-27
From The Boston Mercantile Journal
TILE RATTL ESNAkE,.

From, The Boston Mercantile Journal
THE RATTLESNAKE.
This snake is peculiar, we believe, to North Amer
lea, and was formerly found in great abundance in
tied, and exterminang declared against these
noxious reptiles, their numbers have rapidly de-
creased and now they are seldom seen. They are
still to be found however, occasionally we believe
in certain parts of every New England State, but
generally conine themselves to rocky lodges in I'M
cultivated tracts of the country. In Chester, n H.,
there is hill which, from the great number OF these
reptiles which formerly made it their abiding place,
is called Rattlesnake hill. few still remain, and
they sometimes killed in the adjoining towns,
where they wander in search OF water
A number of years have passed away since an oc-
currence took place in the neighborhood of Chester,
which caused considerable excitement in the neigh
boring families the time and which is still worth
relating Some men were employed IN moving a
meadow, which at distance from any dwelling
road (; and the weather was sultry and many
parts of the meadow covered with water, one of
them, Mr.. r., thought proper to divest himself OF
nearly all his garments and lead the van OF the now
cotte, 1t is well known that at this season.
when drought generally prevails, rattle snakes are
very apt to come down from the high lands IN quest
of water and Mr. r. got at the end of his swarth
and stepped the dry land, he placed his foot almost
in contact with huge rattlesnake, which raised its
tall gave it few quick and sharp shakes and sprang
at the poor fellow Just he turned TO flee, half
frightened to DEATH from the venomous reptile. His
crooked, poisonous iangs entered the lower part OF
the only garment which Mr.. r. wore at the time
the texture of which particularly strong, and
they could not be easily dsengaged MIR. r. gave a
scream and started off on the full run, the snake
sticking to him closer than brother. He passed
woods bushes fields and pastures-he crossed fences
bitches, brooks, and bogs-he jumped, hallooed
galloped, and screamed for aid-vanly trying to rid
himself Of his ugly-looking associate. At length
crazy with fear and fatigue, he reached the public
road, and passed along it on the way to his dwelling
house at rate which would have astonished the
most desperate pedestrian, looking behind him at in
tervals, and screaming whenever he beheld the hor
rid appendage to his homespun linen garment, He
passed several persons in the road, who thun-
derstruck at the sight of the unfortunate man cut
ting up such antics, using such violent exercise, and
exhibiting himself in dishabile, without regard TO
propriety or decency. Mr.. r. at engte reached his
own dwelling, distance of three miles from the
meadow the door of which stood invitingly OPEN
through which he rushed, to the CONSERVATION of the
folks, having still attached to him the grim
looking reptile. BY this time he completely
overcome with terror, heat, and fatigue, and fell
fainting the floor. The poor rattlesnake, howev-
err had got the worst OF 1t, and had been threshed
about at such an unmerciiu rate that his life as well
large portion Of his TAIL had departed long be-
fore he reached the goal
In the wild hills and trap lodges Of Manchester,
Saugus, and Linn, in this State, this reptile is still
and sometimes killed, of a size measuring five
six feet in length 1t is also found among the hills
in portions of the interior, especially Mount
Tom and Mount Hollyoke, on the banks Of the Con-
necticut
In some parts of the western country the rattle
snakes abound, and grow 10 the size of six
feet Hunters or persons who have occasion TO ex-
pore the woods, gens, and uncullivated spots,
leggins, made Of stout deer-skns to protect their legs
against the bite Of this vdnomous ANIMAL they sell
dom strike their enemy at point higher than the calf
of the leg. When party of hunters travellers
find it necessary to encamp at night they select suit
able spot, examine it thoroughly, that there no
holes or rocks about it, which may serve as abiding
places to vcnomous reptiles, and then draw around
them at proper distance stout rope manufactured OF
hor hair, thus describing sort Of magic circle in
which the members of the party enter throw them
selves the ground and repose without any fear
of intrudcrs in the shape of snakes-as it is sin.
gular fact that these creatures will never crawl
a rope made of horse hair! il is not uncommon to
find on awaking from their sumbers in the morning,
several of these unwecome visters handsomely
coed up at the distance Of few yards from the
| circle
In the wild and mountainous region which sopa-
rates Virginia from Kentucky rattlesnakes found
in immense numbers-ndced, great precautions arc
necessary IN travelling among these lodges, lest the
traveller receives fatal wound In the latter part
of September they may be seen crawling up by hun
dreds from the low lands search of winter quarters,
and congregating by thousands in various spots,
where they may be seen by whoever wishes to
! indulge in such curiosity, summing themselves on
the precpices This tract is also the iavorte abode
OF the catamollnt, the panther oil North America.
Rattlesnakes are also found in great abundance to
the westward of the Rocky Mountains. Cox, in his
adventures on Columbia river, says ct yenomous
reptiles so numerous the Grand Rapid, that
they are seen in immense numbers basking in the
sun, and crawling among the rocks At one time,
half dozen of the party fired at bunch lying under
one rock, and killed and wounded thirty -seyen'
In the western part of Michgan and in the Wis
consn Territory, species of rattlesnake abounds,
which is smaller than the ordinary yellow ratesnakc,
and Of blue almost approaching to black. They
are very venomous. In some places on the banks of
the Wisconsin, the numbers of these reptiles have
decreased astonishingly since hogs have been intro
duccd by the settlers. Swine declare war against
them, ending war, and hunt them for the sake
of their carcasses, which they consider great del
lcaty. And what IS singular, the bite of the snake
seems to have injurious effect on the hog-who
never hesitates about attacking one Of the largest
size. lie SEXES the reptile by the middle with his
teeth and maugre all his writings, and Kisses, and
bites soon tears him to pieces and devours him with
all the apparent relish of an epicure
The largest rattlesnakc of which we have any all-
thcntc intelligence, was one killed some years since
on the shores of Apalachcola Bay, in Florida, which
measured nine feet six inches in length and had
tw enty- lone rattes lie real old bruiser, with
long and crooked faugs like mans finger wound
inflicted 10y such an animal must be very announcement
TO say the least