Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-09-09
NatScellamcomS JHatter
An Adventure with Rattlesnakes.

l noticed a "sketch" in the Courier a
few days since, entitled "Taugkannuc
Mountain," that recalled 10 my mind an
incident that occurred to me on those
mountains, some % or 80 years ago. /
was at that time {. resident of Sheffield. AT
the time 70 which refer, formed one oi
party OF young men who made an excur-
sion to the SUNNI. of those mountains, TO
hunt pariridges, &c. There are, or "erc
at that time, places there so infested with
ratllesnakes that il was dangerous to ap-
proach them. 10 avoid these abodes, we
relied on the acquaintance Of one OF our
party with their locality. After chasing
over the hills for six or eight hours, we
were tired enough to think Of returning to
our homes. We were proceeding along in
"Indian fle," through defile some four
rods wide, one side of which was noun
tain the other some 40 feet high, compo.
sed of loose ledges that were overgrown
with ivies, when sharp rattle was heard
that sent a chill TO our hearts. The fore
mos, of our line saw the reptile just ahead
of him, and without thought raised bis gun
and fired. AS the report Of the gun echoed
along the crags most hideous rafting and
Kissing arose on alFsides.
We were in the midst of the "den."-
Each rock and bush seemed populous with
rattlesnakes, and we could see them de-
scending from the higher crags. We stood
still, not knowing what to do. TO go back
would be as dangerous as to advance and to
remain where we were, as periious as eth
er, for several were moving in the bushes
near US. The slightest touch OF fang was
certain death, as we were too far from any
habila,ion TO enable US 10 reach il before
the deadly virus would have taken effect.
We feared to stir, lest we should attract
their attention sooner than if we remained
quiet. What passed in the minds OF my
COMPANIONS know not, but remember
that my own thoughts were OF no very
agreeable nature.
AT this iunc,urc, one Of us perceived
large fat rock, some three rods from US,
and proposed in whisper that we should
make for it. Having ascerlaned that none
of our assailants were between US and II,
we made rush for it, and gained i un-
sca,hed. Our last movements nollhed our
creeping foes OF our whereabouts, as well
as to rrilate them more, and they MADE
for our position.
Our weapons Of defence were four guns,
two pistols and an axe. We were then so
situated as TO be able to defend ourselves,
in some measure. We cut a couple OF very
slender sprouts that grew close by The rock,
stationed ourselves in the centre, and as
the snakes came 10 the edge Of our citadel
we killed them, Only five or SIX made
the attempt, and we pitched their mangled
carcasses back to their comrades. 1t was
evident that so long as we remained on the
rock we We're safe but how to escape was
more than we could predict, II we could
have killed all Of the reptiles on one side,
with our guns and eudgels, we should have
encountered more in scaling the ledge.
We remained quietly on the roca, and,
in short time the rattlesnakes ceased
their attacks, but on our making any move
ment, they commenced Kissing again,-
These snakes emit a dlsagTeeable odor
when disturbed, and the air Was filled with
II. We had noticed tall tree growing
close by Us, and one OF our party proposed
to cut i, so as to cause il TO fall against the
top OF the iedge, and thereby form, II il,
did not hreak, way by which we might
exlrieale ourselves. We Instantly com
meneed cutting II, keeping a sharp look
out ior the spotted raseals, who were now
douby enraged by the resoundlng blows,
This tree lsll with its top against the
summa Of tho ledge, and We aseended ils
iruak aud escaped, before ws lsll We
iusi took q farewell glance al our bailisd
bslligersnis, who had thea taken possession
Of our rock, and were engaged IN snapP.i.ns
a handkerchief dropped by one Of vs. We
formed line, aud shot At them, aud then
lsh. t....f
Fatal a. i tbs bite of rsi,lesnaks' YET
there h q weed growing "a ovr meadows
which being property applied, readers y
hsfmlsss Many psfsons are not ssqas'h'-
sd wllh Il, indeed very few are J have
known persons who. tpssing snlido'ss 'of
tbs poison, refuse 70 di'eloss them