Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-14
From the NJ Y Spirit Of the Times.
An Astonishing Snake Story.

The following horrid adventure occurred to
me some time ago. when travelling in the Valley
of the Mississippi; those who have been there
will recoect the ravines which are often met
with back among the bluffs caused by the wash
ings in the aluva by the frequent and tremen-
dous rains; these ravines are often over one
hundred feet deep, and extend for mile or
more.
One morning took my gun and rambled out
for game.
"Whistling as l W mt, for want of thought"
had strolled, don't know how far, and with
butindifferent success. thinking more of MARY
the blue-eyed daughter of my host and how to
catch her, rather than to bag patridges; when
came to one Of those large deep ravines which
nature has plowed in the suil Being tired
concluded | could venture to descend and climb
up again, rather than go around, for the distance
seemed near quarter of mile, and the ravine
was not over 100 feet deep. While scrambing
up the opposite side, at midway, to my horror
saw coled at the foot of a clump of bushes
huge rattesnake had almost put my foot up
on him when the snake, reused at the intrusion
upon his solitude, rose and rapidly coiled him.
self around me. Had had time for thought,
should not have acted better than did, which
was Impulsively to throw my gun away and seize
the snake near the head A moments hesita-
ton would have been fatal to me. Here | was,
forty or fifty feet above the bottom of the ravine
holding with one hand to the bushes to prevent
my falling down the almost perpendicular height,
and with the other having hold of the snakes
head. To fling the snake away was my first idea,
but that was too dangerous, besides, being nearly
eight feet long, he too tightly coed around me-
knew no house was near, and the cotton fields
which had been through were not likely to be
traversed by any one; therefore all succor from
others was thing neither to be hoped or ex.
pected.
Minutes passed like hours, the serpent was
Kissing, darling out his horrible forked tongue
his tail was wriggling and his rattes going and
every now and then lancied heard his call
answered by others, much too near for my pleas
ure AS long as held my present advantage
there was no danger from my bosom companion
but unless something turned up to relieve me,
could not hold on till the snake died of old age
or want Of food But when our fortunes are at
lowest, there is turning point--a bright idea
rushed into my head, "To bite his head OFF,
Having hold of the snakes head with my right
hand, could not, even if would have let 90
the bush with my left, and used my knife, which
was in the right pc cket Of my trowsers.
Although beautiful the snake was, his skin
glttcrmg in the soft sun Of fine day in No
vember, yet felt no appetite for my denic meal
But things were becoming desperate, so after adj
justlng my position to command the neck more
easily, I BIT WITH WGoR! The thought of it
makes me now nearly as sick as the bite did then,
for on the fat and pieces coming into my mouth,
gave to Mother Earth the hasty breakfast which
| had enjoyed but few hours before, and be-
came so faint with disgust that could scarcely
keep my two holds The snake Kissed and
wrlthed, and that horrible forked tongue went
dancing in and out No devil could have had
more fiery eyes Again | wound myself up to
the frightful task, and gnawed and gnawed till
the vertebra was in two and the snake was life
less theoretically; but still that horrid tongue
went in and out, but my danger was over, and
with one effort | tore the mangled head and
threw it from me, and quickly disengaged my
self from the remaining part.
My gun, which had rolled to the bottom
the ravne, left, too exhausted to 60 for it, III
not little in fear of more rattesnakes; so, (
making my way up to the top of the ravi9
steered for the nearest house, where | got Il ,e.
hicIe and drove to my friends, where Vas con.
fined to my bed for three weeks from an illness
growing out of the great state of excitement
which had undergone. And owe Il ny thanks
to my sweet Mary for her kindness to me during
the period of my convOlescence, which brought
two souls to closer sympathy. The planter sem
for my gun, and at the same time ordered the
negro to bring the rattles, which he did, We
counted fourteen l.