Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-04-08
aHmbsr2S
The Gold Hunter and the Snake.


Ia the following extract from the letter
of a gold digger la Australia TO an old
associate. which we find i, our late Eng.
lish papers, is detailed the veryls.est snake
story we have seen. The writer, whose
episle is dated nn the Sd Of Sepiember.
last, says: "You remember Dead
Horse Gully the scene Of our sporting
adventures. One day | was more
than usually lucky, so next morning be.
times | was stirring, made fast my rope
to tree, and down went by it hand IN.
der hand, lit my slush lamp, and proceed.
ed on the drive on my hands and knees,
eager to begin work, and thinking Of the
big nuggets. You remember | was sl>
ways celebrated for making small drives.
Shading the light with my hand crawl.
ed in. Near the far end l stopped to
avoid crawling through pool Of water.
Casting the light before me to see how
the land lay-horror Of horror !--on the
other side of The pool I perceived pair
of small glittering eyes intently fixed on
me, the cold, malignant expression Of
which forced the warm blood back to my
heart with bound which nearly suffoca.
ted me. Iknew lat once il was a snake,
and deadly one, too. Arching its neck
with Kissing noise, it collected itself for
the fatal spring. Starting back my head
came in contact with the roof Of the tun-
mel, and fell back sense ess. How long
lay in that state know not, but when
| came to consciousness, at first thought
that was al home in the big smoke
but gradually the truth forced itself upon
me. Where was the snake? Was l Bit
ten! To the last mental query, cheer
fully answered 'No' for most Of thess
snakes are deadly, and the bitten part
swels up Immediately. On considera-
ton, remembered that the snake had
reared for the spring. so it was clear that
[ had fallen in the nick Of time, and the
reptile had passed over; but where was it
now! A cold shudder came over me when
l considered that the snake was still in the
hole. perhaps even within few feet
watching me with its glossy eyes. or pre-
parfng fur auOtlIer spring. am not
easily frightened as you well know, but
for all the gold in Bendigo. | would not
be in that situation again. How was I
to proceed? My only weapon was a
driving pick; | grasped it, and creeping
cautiously along, | heard noise in
front. Was it the snake? | held my
breath in fearful suspense, with the
sweat of agony moistening my brow
No, it was some loose stones falling
from the roof / breathed again, and
with forced courage crept steal,hily
along. Arriving near the mouth of the
tunnel, | was again startled at seeinga
large carpet snake (my late tormentor)
circling around the mouth Of the hole, and
gliding half his length up its slippery sides,
darling in and out his forked tongue;
and slowly moving his head as if seach-
ing for an opening to hide itself. Being
concealed in the dark tunnel, l had am.
pie time for consideration. Evidently |
should be able to strike the first blow il
| could succeed in reaching the mouth
without making noise. l made up my
mind at once, perhaps rashly; as I
might have done better if waited until
it was asleep. Muttering prayer, I
crept cautiously forward, but the head
of my pick caught against loose stone,
and down came a lot of earth. Cursing
my bad luck, Hooked to see what effect
it would have on the snake. 1t was
evidently aroused, twisting and comfort
ing its body into all sorts Of knots, at
the same time keeping its eyes fixed on
the mouth of the tunnel. Darling quick
ly from my concealment, nailed the
snake to the ground with my pick. With
hiss Of pain it suddenly threw its folds
around my leg, and partly drew it to-
wards its head.
Recovering, planted my leg firmly,
pulled out my Bowie knife with my left
hand, and cut the snake in two about d
foot from his head !; but still the Shiny
body was contracted about my leg, and
still the forked tongue was playing In
and out, Notwithstanding the body was
severed in two, 1 clambered up the side
of the hole with the snakes body cling
ing to my leg. When got to the grass,
agaiu cut the snake in two, and unwound
it, thanking God for my narrow escape.
The snake measured eight feet six inches.