The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-31

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Madisonian.
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.
THE RATTLESNAKE.
This snake is peculiar, we believe, to North Amer
ica and was formerly found in great abundance in
New England but since the country has become set
tled and exterminatng war declared against these
noxious reptiles, their numbers have rapidly de-
creased and now they seldom seem They are
still to be found, however, occasionally, we believe
in certain parts of every New England State, but
generally confine themselves to rocky lodges in I'M
cultivated tracts of the country. In Chester N H.,
there hill which, from the great number of these
reptiles which formerly made it their abiding place,
| is called Rattlesnake hill A few still remain, and
| they sometimes killed in the adjoining towns,
where they wander in search OF water.
number of years have passed away since
currence took place in the neighborhood Of Chester,
which caused considerable excitement in the neigh
boring families at the time, and which is still worth
relating. Some men were employed in moving
meadow, which was at distance from any dwelling
| or road and as the weather was sutry 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 of the now
ers sans ctIote 1t is well known that at this season,
when drought generally prevails, rattle snakes
very apt to down from the high lands in quest
of water and Mr.. r. got at the end of his swarth
and stepped on the dry land he placed his foot almost
in contact with huge rattlesnake, which raised its
TAIL gave it few quick and sharp shakes, and sprang
at the poor fellow just as he turned to flee, half
frightened to death, from the venomous reptile His
crooked, poisonous fangs entered the lower part of
the only garment which Mr.. r. wore at the time,
the texture Of which was particularly strong, and
they could not be easily dsengaged. Mr.. R. gave a
scream and started off 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 were thun-
derstruck at the sight Of the unfortunate man cut
ting up such ancs using such violent exercise, and
exhibiting himself in dishable, without regard to
propriety or decency. Mr.. r. at lengte reached his
own dwelling, distance of three miles from the
meadow, the door of which stood invtingly open,
through which he rushed, to the CONSERVATION of the
women folks, having still attached to him the grim
looking reptile. BY this time he was completely
overcome with terror, heat, and fatigue, and fell
faintng on the floor The poor rattlesnake howev-
CT, nau got JNe WOFSl Oh IT, dnu nau Dec0 LnrcSncQ
about at such unmerciful 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
seen and sometimes killed. of size measuring five or
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
lcpoJ ncnh nnnH, and tho. e -.
feet. Hunters, or persons who have occasion to
plore the woods glens and uncullivated spots wear
leggins made of deerskns protect their legs
against the bite of this venomous animal as they sell
dom strike their enemy al point higher than the calf
of the leg. When party of hunters travellers
lind necessary to encamp at night they select suit
able spot examine it thoroughly, that there are no
holes or rocks about it, which may as abiding
: places TO venomous reptiles, and then draw around
them at proper distance stout rope manufactured of
horse hair, thus describing sort of magic circle in
which the members of the party enter throw them
selves on the ground, and repose without any fear
of intruders in the shape of snakes-as it is a sin
gular fact that these creatures will never crawl over
a rope made of horse hair! 1t is not uncommon to
find, on awaking from their sumbers in the morning,
, several OF these unWecome visiters, handsomely
coiled up at the distance of few yards from the
circle
In the wild and mountainous region which sepa-
rates Virginia from Kentucky rattlesnakes are found
in immense numbers-ndeed, great precautions are
necessary 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 also the favorite abode
of the catamount, the panther of North America
Rattlesnakes are also found in great abundance to
the westward of the Rocky Mountains. Cox, in his
adventures on Columbia river says st csc venomous
reptiles are numerous near 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 thrt, seven"
In the western part of Michigan and in the Wis
consin Territory, species Of rattlesnake abounds,
which is smaller than the ordinary yellow rattesnake
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 astonishingy since hogs have been intro
duced by the settlers. Swine declare war against
them never ending war, and hunt them for the sake
of their carcasses, which they consider great del
icacy. And what is singular, the bite of the snake
seems to have no injurious effect the hog-who
never hesitates about attacking Of the largest
size. He seizes the reptile by the middle with his
teeth and maugre all his writings, and Kisses, and
bites, tears him to pieces and devours him with
all the apparent relish of an epicure
The largest rattlesnake of which we have any au-
lhentc intelligence killed some years since
on the shores of Apaachicola Bay, in Florida which
measured nine feet six inches in length, and had
twenty-one rattles He was real old bruiser with
long and crooked fangs like mans finger. wound