Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-02-13
Sporting Scenes in Texas and
New Mexico
By Member of the Mexican Boundary Commission.

/ W hlle speaking OF the rattlesnake among
the prairie bogs, | may as well add few
words connected in relation TO his snake
! ship. Those venomous creatures abound
/ throughout the plains of Texas aud New
| Mexico. We meet them continually in
our path, and they always gave US notice of
| their proximity by shaking their rattles
! Often did hear this warning without dis
covering the enemy; and on such occa-
/ sions it is best to get out of the way. The
rattlesnake never attacks except when pro-
yoked, and they are easily killed. A blow
/ with a stick will disable them, when they
are readily dispatched. The young men
| OF the expedition were fond of shooting
! them with their pistols, and so much ammu-
/ milton was wasted in this sport, if it may
be so called, that it became necessary to
7 issue an order forbidding it. We had
some experience Of the bite Of this snake.
+ As we were approaching the ConchO
river, one OF our hOrsemen discovered d
| large rattlesnake directly in our trail. He
! gave him shot from his siX-shOOter, which
! took effect, nearly cutting his body in two.
He then attempted to ride over him, when
the snake raised his head and struck the
horse in the hind leg, about foot above
! the hoof. Several saw the snake, and we
| stopped TO see if any injury had been
done. We at once discovered the marks
where the Eangs had entered, from which
the blood was oozing. Within five min
! utes the horse. which was a very fine one,
began to limp. Soon after, his leg began
to swell, so that he could not walk on it,
and it was with difficulty that he was led
into camp, so great appeared to be his ag-
Onv.
Within half an hour we reached our
camp, and proceeded 10 alleviate the suffer
ings of the poor animal. \ small air
pump was applied first and some blood
drawn from the wound-poultices were
applied and the horse was watched with
care during the night, as he lay at length
on the grass. In the morning his entire
/ leg and thigh were much swollen never
theess, he was led along after the wagons.
After few days the swelling subsided,
and he showed symptoms of sickness,
which increased so that at last we were
compelled to abandon him.
We saw many other snakes of different
kinds, some of them OF the most brilliant
colors, which were safely put away in al
( cohol. There Is one species called the
chicken snake, which at first gave us
much alarm. This snake we always
found in tops of trees, moving with as
much rapidity from branch to branch as a
squirrel. For this motion, his form seemed
admirably adapted by its. great length,
which was from five to eight feet, though
his body was not larger than that of other
snakes of half the length. The chicken
snake, afterwards learned from Texans
in the party, is harmless. These men
would catch them by their tails and snap
them like a whip. How they derive their
names, know not. t'his much IS Ger
tain, that there are no chickens in the re-
gion where we met them. 1t is possible,
! however, that in the settled portions OF
Texas they may infcst the poultry yards.
THE WILD TURKEY.
Let me say a word about the wild tur-
+ kew, in every respect more interesting
I subject than that of snakes, unless one
happens to be an adept in herpetoiogy.
What noble game is this bird. ltis game
as is game as Captain Cutie would say,
and no one would question the assertion.
However, there is doubt whether the Cap
tain ever ,raycrsed the plains of Texas.
NV first contact with The wild turkey,
was in the wooded valley of a small
stream, where rode in to water my mule.
At this time a flock of at least thirty full
grown turkeys rose up within ten feet Of
me, making a noise Ike the roar of mus
kerry. ] was so much startled at their
sudden appearance, that | was thrown off
my guard, and before | had time to un-
strap my gun from the saddle, the whole
/ flock were beyond my reach. was more
cautious afterwards, knowing where the
/ haunts of these birds were, and hence was
more successful i'll shooting them.
/ The usual haunts of the wild turkey Is
in the river bottoms, which, III Texas,
abound III the pecan tree, on the nut OF
which they feed. They are seldom found
! in the plains, unless there is wood near.
| The best way to shoot them is TO take a
stand in the wood near rIver towards
sunset, when they come to roost. The
call of turkey is easily initiated by an
experleuced sportsman. This call or
whistle will attract any passing bird to-
wards you, which, when perched on
tree, perhaps above your head, will call
! his or her brood TO the same spot. As
! they alight, one after another, thev may
be shot down, without disturbing the rest
of the flock. In this manner sportsman
may shoot half dozen in half an hour.
1t is exciting sport to give them chase
when one is on horseback. They will
run for miles without taking wing, and