Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1855-08-01
FearFuI position.

correspondent of the Missouri Democrat wri-
ting from Paoli, Kansas Territory, the l1th Of
June relates the following incident of his own per-
sonaI experience:
On last Sunday evening tho air was SO bewitch
ingly balmy and the sky SO sofily veied 6Y slad-
oWy clouds that was se1uced into a heightened
stroll along the bluffs which Prou9lS RSPits 20 ocr>
look the umbrageous. woodlands en- the one side
and the suulit plains upon the other until reached
an elevated PtanSrle, so taitSS to command pam
oramic view whose picturesque and varied beauties
raVished all my senses aud lost mo IN most creamy
reveries. -. y - /"
head upon nv hand, until presently it rolled away
upon the cushion of springy moss, which grew
there like an emerald dtadem, and / was locked IN
that strange slHmber which leaves yea senc0aciouS
and vet restraius volition had lain thus several
minutes, with my left arm stretched te tt9 eIleIt
when at the extreEuites OF the fingers OF that and
there was sensation new and peculiar that sent +"
thrill of pleasure to the mind aud hearti It WAS
soothing drawing, and Ogreeably utilatiug, aSNt
the fingers were dissloving away in delightful
seleabsorption. Just then. from this sort OF bliss
full abandon WGs startled by the report OF gun
shot within a few PAGES Of me, sprang to sny
feet, and with astonishment, saw my friend Mitchell
standing near aud gazing at me with h1ed toGK
of CHASTITY horror. Before ECould enquire what lie
meant nr attention. caught by the sound OF
The most sltri kecn, ringing rattle ever Pene
trated human year, and on looking down aIScoF-
cred hinge ratiieSuakc with gerry bead. quiVcr'nS
and writing in the agonies of dCathr and sending
forth from his erect tail the terrible tocstn that
beard.
From this fearful propinquity, began to realize
my position but not until heard an explanation
from NJ could fully understand and appreciate its
horrors.
He told me that my resting place was the top OF
n rattlcsuake den and pointed out the Oriiice5
through which they passed. that he was IN the haoit
of coming there sunday evenings 10 Ahoottat-
tlesuakeS that when he approached that eEenhS
and saw me lying upon the den he onPpoSsd'I hao
been bitten and dead ttnt he cropt near ana
saw my respiration and kpew, was alive, ont DIS,
covered Inonstrous snaEc licking my hand ana
covering it with a sli,ry coating preparatory 70
deglutiIion that he made a slight lnyoSAnlrg
shuddering exclamation of my GodI when prev
the snakes attention and causei him to turn his hea!I
'; Ten he discharged n load of buck sh2t lnte MS
neck, rpapgling and tearing it TO pieces ana thpS
saved lry life. He had scarcely told me tnlSi whCi
took but Il moment, whet rattles all around nrcugGS
us to recollection that were not yet tree from
danger
We saw ter or Ffteen large rattlesnaEes appTofch'
ing us from every quarter, with eyes glHF'hS re-
vengefuhy, barbCd tongues thrustlng threatehhgiE,
and raItlcs sounding aIarmingly. They are pfANS :
and cannot bc intimidated, and will die over the
2ead body Of their companion SOONER than desert
it, We knew the indomitable character OF our enc,
my, and ~, and L. with his double barrel gun ana
my scks;aad stones, fought our way out as pest We
could. Ycu may imagine that my nerves MerI
slightly agi laled thRt evening ard drSa'neu o,
snakes that night. N. hns killed one hundred anu
seven of thaIn-tte largest OF which had twentJ's1
ra,es. lie says the Indians who have been III mine me
habit of hunting them for many years, nave Al''eu
much Older ones and hare slain thousands