Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-08-10
Asleep on a Rattlesnake Den.

A correspondent of the Ms souri, Demo
crat, writing from Paoli, Kansas Terrific.
ry, on the 18th Of June, relates the fol-
lowing incident Of his own personal expe-
ricnce
"On last Sunday evening the air was so
bewitchingly balmy, and the sky so softly
veiled by shadowy clouds, that l was Sc
duced into heightened stroll along the
bluffs which proudly spirc to overlook the
outrageous woodlands on this side, and
the sun-lit plains upon the other, until |
reached an elevated pinnacle, so tall as to
command panoramic view, whose pictu-
rescue and varied beauties ravishe,l all my
senses and lost me in almost dreamrcye-
rics.
rcclincd upon the summit Of tho rock
with my head, until presently, it rolled
away upon cushion of springy moss,
which grew there like an emerald diadcm,
and l was locked in that strange slumber
which leaves you semi conscious, and yet
restrains volition. had laid thus several
minutes, with my left arm stretched to its
extent, when at the cxtremities of the fin
gers Of that hand, there was sensation,
new and peculiar, that sent thrill of
pleasure to the mind and heart; it was
soothing, drawing and agrecably titillating,
as if the fingers were dissolving away il a
delightful self absorbation. Just then,
from this sort Of blissful abandon, 1 was
startled by the report of gunshot within
few PAGES Of me. Isprang to my feet,
and with astonishmcnt, saw my friend
Mitchell standing near and gazing at me
with fixed look Of ghastly horror. Be-
fore l could inquire what he meant, my
attention was caught by the sound of the
most shrill, keen, ringing rattle that ever
penetrated human car and on looking
down discovered huge rattlesnake with
CORY head, quivcring and writhing in the
agonies of death, and sending forth from
his erect tail the terrible tocsin that l
heard.
From his fearful propinquity, began
to realize my position, but not until l
heard an explanation from NJ, could |
fully understand and appreciate its hor-
rors.
lie told me that my resting place was
the top of a rattlcsnakc den, aud pointed
to the orificcs through which they passed;
that he was in the habit of coming there
on Sunday evenings to shoot rattlesnakcs;
that when he approached that evcniug,and
saw me lying upon the den, he supposed
| had been bitten and was dead that he
crept nearer and saw my respiration, and
knew l was alive, but discovered mons
trous snake licking my hand and covering
it with Shiny coating, preparatory to de-
glutition that he made slight, volunta-
ry shuddcring exclamation Of My God
which drew the snakes attention and
caused him to turn his head, when he dis
charged load Of buck-shot into his neck,
and tearing it to pieces, and
thus saved my life. lie had scarcely told
me this, which took but moment, when
rattles all around brought us to a rccol-
lection that VIC were not yet free from
danger.
We saw ten or fifteen large rattlcsnakcs
US from every quarter, with
eyes glaring revengcfully, barbcd tongues,
lhrusting thrcateninsly and rattlcs sound
ing alarmingly. They are brave and can
not be intimidatcd, and will die over the
lead body of their companion sooner than
lcseft it. We knew the indomitatlc char
.cter of our enemy, and NJ. and l. with
,is double -barrelsd gun and my sticks and !
'tones fought our way out as best VIC
.ould. You may imagine that my nerves
we're slightly tasitated that evening, and
hat dreamed of snakes that night. NJ. |
las killed one hundred and seven of them
the largest of which had twenty six
a,tlcs lie says the Iulians, who have