The Arkansas banner., 1848-03-07
EfOn 9g'' iis h K,:Sgiri q Re Times. sl MitlesRake an . Steamboat.

" 4s@faN v tps meAtsaA iec!nfes, eM 0ppQriulllY was otered ne by an ingenious negro, who had caught the reptiles asleep. Of exchanging . ycii- wogh blanket coat and two dimes; principally in eAsh. Tor a fne aspeeimen of the Rattlesnake as ever delighted the eye or ear of naturalist; nine Inches across the small ofthe back, six feet seven eighths cf sn inch in length, eyes like giobuIar lightning. eoloFs gaudy an AFEansas gal aproa twenty three Fattles and great propensity to make them beard, were the strong points of my purchase. Designing him as pfUpitiary offering 'tn one ol the professors my next care was to furnish hins with fitting habitaiion. Nothing better present. ing itsell, made him one out of pine box, origi naiy designed for slioes, by mailing thin sists trans verseiy, 90 neithsr to exclude air uos vison bat sufficiently close. thought io prevent him from es- crping. The day for my departure arrived. and had his snakeship carried on board the boatdesned 10 bear me to Vieksburg, where would take an Ohio steamer 6 sa ~
 suafostanstely ios the Qaietsde of my pet, on the Yaxoo boat was . young Cockney Ia6y, whc, hear Ing that there was live rattiesnake on board. all lowed her curiosity 10 overcome her maiden alfE- dence sufficiently 10 prefer request that the young doetor ''would make is hanimai oller." process which the proverbiai abstemiousness when in con finement of the "haBimai,' was accomplishing ta- pidly without any Intervention on my part. Polite ness woald not allow me 10 refuse abdas it was con siderable of novelty to ths passengers, his snake ship was kept constantly stirred up and his faIes ! had very little rest tl,at trip.
 The steamer at Length swung alongside of the whah-boat at -. and transfe ring my bag gage, lounged about until the arrival of boat would give me an opportunity of proceeding. The contents of the box were quickly discovered and the snake had to undergo the same infctons as the day previous, until thoroughly vexed, made them de- siss, and resolved theheeiorthI would conceal his presence, and allow him to travel as common bag gage: 4S. s,a .. .sg ir,, dafta a stay of . few minutes for passengers, proceeded on her way. obtaining none. however, except my self. The snake box was placed with the other bag gage on the cabin deck in front of the ssocial hall, " jam up. as luck would have 1t, against one of the chimseys, making the location unplessaRaly warm.
 It was one of those clear. luminous nights in su- tumn, when not cloud aims the azure. and the heavens so s.beautifuliy blue" (aas, poor Neal gieaming with their myriad stars. and the laugh ing breeze lifts the hair o the brow and presses the cheek with as soR a touch as the pulpy lips of a maiden in her first essay at kissing. The clear croupy cough of the steamer was echoed back in prolonged asthmaiie strains from the dark woods lining the river like an army of cowled gigantic monks come from their cells 10 see a steamboat Supper was over. and the beauty of the night had enticet the majority of the passengers from the ca bin to the open decks. ..E
 A goodiy number, myself among inc rest, were seated in front of the social hal smoking cigars and swapping yarns of all cmes. sizes nations and coloIs. .s.,.. ,, ..-......,. Sitting few yards from me. the most prominent parsonage ct the group, smoking his regalia, and galing the crowd with the manner whic ch he choked '.eobra de Copela" to death, that crawled into his hammock in India, was an old English sailor, W ho, from his own account had sailed over all the world and through some parts oft.
 Weighing the words down with heavy ballast of oaths, he said he wasnt afraid o( ythng in the snake line from the sea serpent do to the original 4lrs hat fef nfed | aSkp hn had mel the rattlesnake since he had been in America. thinking would put his courage to the test on the MOTION. .,l4 ,n.
 "Seen rat,iesnake, Yes, cnonsh 10 sink sew enty-four, Went to GeoFgiaon purpose 10 kill them Pshaw! Toihink man that had killed boa con- s,rctor fair fight should be iraid of little noisy frt of snake that never grew bigger rouni than marlin spike"
 Al this moment the boat was running bend near in shore, and the glare of huge fire al wood yard was thrown directly under the chair of the braggar, when to my utter amazcmebt. ssss there. snnglT coi;ed up, the huge proportions oi my snufef
 was so horrifed and astonished could neither speak nor move. 1 had left him securely fastened in his cage and yet there he was at liberty in his deadly colt, his syes giesming like living ceals- The light intercepted, and the foot ot the sailor moving closer to the reptile, comme need its ing rattle, but slowly and rregu!ary, showing il was not luily aroused.
 .sWhat Is that" exclaimed dozen voices. The foot being withdrawn, the ratuing ceased before its nature or could be clearly traced.
 "'Twas the steam escaping" said one
 GA goose hissing," said another.
 "The wind" .. as "A trick to scare the saiior," thought a good many; but knsU t Was raitiesnake ta Ais deadly 1 coil s
 1 The horror of that moment shall no, attempt to descIlbe. every second expected to hear the shrek of the sailor the deadly iange would penetrate his n al- on earth could avail him, and l was powerless to warn him of his danger
 sIt sounded monstrous like . rattlesnake." ob- served passenger, sbut there no doctors fool students board and no body but cusses like these would be taking snakes bout. Twas gwine up the Mississppi wnGst when ra,,lesnake, belonging to medical student on board, got out and bit oae oi the passengers the poor crter didn't live ten mfr utes, and the sawbones prentice not much longer | l reckon"
 My hair stood on end for there was an earnestness about the man that told lne he was not testing ssYou dia'nt kill him, suTelyP' asked some one. "Oh, no! we didn't zactly kill him, sieh cuttin his throat or putin lead n holler cmbin. for that would have him takin the law inter our owa hands; but we gay hlIn i've hundred Iashes, treated bm 10
 coat of tar and feathers, made clean crop ci ons ear, and wallow st, under bit. and-haf crop of the other. and put hun out little island up to his mouth in water, and the river Tisin plum ioea l an hour" " Not knowing but similar fate might seSn be mine, .n agony, with the cold sweat streaming over me, listened to this internal recital of sb instance kof the summary punishment termed Lynch Law, which the uoavaiiibili,y of the proper law so often drove the early settlers to, and which unfortunately is not yet entirely abolished
 The sailor must again have moved his foot closer 10 the snake than agreeable. for his internal rattng reeommenced, and his tms clear, loud. and ecniinu ous to the tutoted ear indicating great danger the preclude to fatal spring.
 shook off my ieihargy. and sbreked out-'Don' move for your life! 4 lighti for Gods sake bring light. Quick. Quick!" 1 No one moved --lhinking was testing. 'Mister. spoke the sailor sif it's trick 10 scare me, yoai miss the figure with your ehiids rastles; les bring one of yoaf real rattlesnakes along. and I'll sho" you whether he can frighten an Eng'ish sailor o' not"
 1 Hearing me calling so loudly for light the mate a staiwart Eishman. came running uP with lafge torch. ut hardly had he reached the deck when ne
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