Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-06
VOL. 3.--NO. 2S2.
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
a Bed of Rattlesnakes.
From the correspondence of the st Louis Demo
ernt June Goth.
PAoLI KANSAS TERRITORY, June II,

lADII, kANSAS TERRITORY, June IL,
On last Sunday evening tho air was so bewiteh-
lngly balmy, and the sky 80 softly veed by
shadowy clouds, Tint was seduced into length
ened stroll along the bluffs, which proudly aspire
tn overlook the outrageous woodlands on the one
side, and the sun lit plains upon the other until
reached an elevated pinnacle, tall as to com
mand panoramic view, whose picturesque and
varied beauties rayshed all my senses and lost me
IN most dreamy reveries
| reclined upon the summit of tho rock with my
head upon my hand, until presently it rolled away
upon the cushion of springy moss, which grew
there like an emerald diadem, and was locked
i'll that strange somber which leaves you semi
conscious, am. yet resrhins volition. Ind laid
thus several minutes, with my left arm stretched
to its extent. when at the extremities of tho fin.
gers of TINT hand. there a sensation new and
peculiar that sent thrill of pleasure to the mind
aud heart; IT was soothing, drawing. and agreeable
titilnting, as if tho fingers wore dissolving AWAY
in II delightful self absorption.
just then from this sort of blissiul abandon, l
was startled by the report of gunshot within
few paoes of me. sprang TO my feet. and, with
nstonishnent, saw my friend Mitchell standing
near and gazing at me with n xed look of ghast-
ly horror. Before could enquire what he meant
my attention caught by tho sound of the most
shrill, keen, ringing rattle that ever penetrated
human ear; and on looking down | discovered u
huRo Ihllicsnhke Win BoIy neuu anu
writing III the agonies of death, and sending
forth from his erect tail the terrible toosin that
heard
From his fearful propnquity began to realize
my position, but not until i heard an explanation
from NJ. could fully understand and appreciate
its horrors.
He told me that my resting place was at tho
top of n rattesnake den, and pointed out the or
fees through which they passed. that he was in
the habit of coming there on Sunday evenings to
shoot rattlesnnkes: That when he approached that
evening and saw mo lying upon the den,he sup
posed had been bitten and dead; that he
crept nearer and saw my respiration and knew l
wa. alive, but discovered monstrous snake lick
ing my hand and covering it with u Shiny coating
preparatory TO degluliton; that he made slight
involuntary, shuddering, exclamation of my
God!' which drew the snake attention and caus-
ed him 10 turn his head when he discharged
load of buck shot into his face and neck mang
ling aud tearing them to pieces and thus saved my
life
lie had scarcely told mo this, which took but
moment, when rattles all around brought us to
n recollection that we were not yet free from dan
ger. We saw ton or fifteen large rattlesnakes
approaching us from every quarter. with eyes
gIaring royengefuy, barbed tongues thrustng
thrcatenngy and rattles sounding alarmingly.-
They are brave and cannot be intmidated, and
will die over the dead body of their companion
sooner than desert it. We knew tho indomitabe
character of our enemy, and Mitchell and with
his double barreod gum and my sticks and stones
fought our way out as best we could. You may
imagine that my nerves were. slightly agitated
that evening. and that dreamed ofsnakes that
night. Mitchell has killed one hundred and sew
on of themthe largest of which had twenty six
rntttles. lie says the Indians, who have been in
the habit of hunting them for many years. have
killed much older ones, and have slain thousands.