Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-03-18
From the Spirit of the Times
A Snake Story extraordinary.
"The bitter bit," and no mistake

| Ny DEAR "SPIRlr."-The following most hor.
rible adventure occurred to me some time ago.
when travelling in the Valley of the Mississip ppi;
those who have been there will recoect the ra-
vines which often met with back among the
bluffs caused by the washings in the aiuval by
| the frequent and tremendous rains; these ravnes
are often over one hundred feet deep; and extend
| for mile or more.
One morning my hospitable host, having bus-
ness in the neighboring town, begged would for
one day excuse him and amuse myself. Shortly
after his departure | took my gun and rambled
out for game,
"Whstling as went for want of thought -
had strolled don't know how far, and with
but Indifferent success, thinking more of Mary
the bue-eyed daughter of nv host, and how 10
catch her, rather than bag partridges: when |
came TO one Of those large deep ravines which
nature has plowed in the soil. Being tired, |
concluded | could venture to descend and climb
up again, rather than 60 around, for the distance
seemed near quarter Of mile, and the ravne
was not over 100 feet deep. While scrambIing
up the opposite side, at mid way, to my horror |
saw coiled at the foot OF a cump of bushes huge
rattlesnake. had almost put my foot upon him.
when the snake, reused at the intrusion upon
his solitude, rose and rapidly coiled himself a.
round me. Had had time for thought, should
not have acted better than | did, which was i'm.
pulsivey to throw my gun away, and seize the
would have been fatal to me. Here was, forty
or fifty feet above the bottom Of the ravne hold
ing with one hand to the bushes to prevent nv
falling down the almost perpendicular height nd
with the other having hold of the snakes head
10 fling the snake away was nv first idea, but
that was too dangerous, besides, being nearly
eight feet long, he was too tightly coiled round
me. | knew no house was near, and the cotton
fields which had been through were not likely TO
be trlVerSed bV oil
from others was thing neither to be hoped or
expected.
Minutes passed like hours. the serpent was hiss.
ing, daring out his horrible forked tongue; his
tail was wrggiing and his rattes going, and every
now and then fancied heard his call answered
by others, much to near for my pleasure. As
long as held my present advantage, there was
no danger from my bosom companion, but unless
something turned up 10 relieve me, | could not
hold on till the snake died of old age or want of
food. But when our fortunes are at tho lowest
there IS turning point. bright dec rushed into
my head, "To bite his head off, Having hold
OF the snakes head with my right hand could
not, even if | could have let 90 the bush with nv
left, have used my knife, which was in the right
pocket of my trowsers.
There is an old nursery rhyme which speaks
about
-Four and twenty black birds baked in u pic
When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing
Was this not dish to set before the King?''
However the King might have relishcd live
black-b birds, | doubt If he would have fancied
luncheon off live ratte-snake, but these were
not my thoughts just then. Although beautiful
the snake was, his skin gIittering in the soft sun
of fine day in November, yot | felt no appetite
for my denlc meal. But things were becoming
desperate, so after adjusting my position TO COM
mand the neck more easily, BIZ Nth rigor!
The thought of it makes me nearly as sick
as the bite did then, for the fat and pieces
coming in my mouth gave to Mother Earth the
hasty breakfast which had enioyed but few
hours before. and became so faint with disgust
that could scarcely keep my two holds, the
snake hlssed and wrthed, and that horrible forked
tongue went dancing in and outl No devil could
have had more fiery eyes. Again | wound nv
self up to the frightful task, and gnqwed and
gnawed till the vertebra in two, and the snake
was lifeess theoretically, but still tha. horrible
tongue went IN and out, but my danger was over,
and with one effort tore the mangled head and
threw ii from me, and quickly disengaged myself
from the remaining part. .
My gun, which had rolled 70 the bottom of the
ravne, left. too exhausted 10 90 for it, and not
a little in fear of more rattle snakes so after
making my way up to the top of the ravine,
steered for the nearest house, where | got a We
hlcle and drove to my friends, where | was con-
fined TO the bed three weeks from an illness grow
ing oct CT the great state of excitement which
had undergone. And owe many thanks to my
sweet Mary for her kindness TO mo during the pc
riod Of my convalescence, which brought two
souls to closer sympathy.
The planter sent for my gum and at the same
time ordered the negro to bring the rattIes. which
he did, We counted foureen! My friend begged
to keep them, and thought them but small ex-
change for his daughter. NJ.