Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-07-21
THIB0DAUX, LOUISIANA, SATURDAY. JULY q. 1855

ALLEEP ON A RArrLEsNAKE DEN.-A cores
pondent of the Missouri Democrat, writing from
PaoI, Kansas territory, on the l7th of June, re
ates the following incident Of his own persona
experience:
On last Sunday evening the air was so bewitch
lngly balmy, and the sky so softly yelled b,
shadowy clouds, that | was seduced into length
ened stroll along the bluffs which proudly aspire te
overlook the outrageous woodlands on the one
side, and the sun lit plains on the other, until
reached an elevated pinnacle, so tall as to com
mand panoramic view, whose picturesque and
in most dreamy reveries.
| reclined upon the summit of the rock with my
head upon my hand until presently it rolled away
upon the cushion of springy moss which grew there
! like all emerald diadem, and was locked in that
strange sumber which leaves you semi-conscious,
and yet restrains volition. had laid thus several
mnntes with my left arm stretched to its extent,
when at the extremities Of the fingers of that hand
there was sensation new and peculiar, that sent
thrill OF pleasure to the mind and heart-it was
soothing, drawing and agreeably titillating, as if
the fingers were dssoiving away in delightful self
absorption. just then, from this sort of blssful
"o"oA', was oeoi uCO ny eiS ICpOIG vi SuIlSlOI
within few PAGES of me, sprang to my feet, and
with astonishment saw my friend Mitchell standing
near and gazing at me with fixed look of ghastly
horror. Before l could inquire what he meant, my
attention was caught by the sound of the most
shrll, keen, ringing rattle that ever penetrated
human ear; and on looking down discovered a
huge rat'lesnake with CORY head, quivering and
wrthing in the agonies Of DEATH and sending forth
from his erect tail the terrible tocsn that heard
From his fearful propinquity, l began to realize
my position, but not until heard an explanation
from NJ, could l fully understand and appreciate
its horrors.
He told me that my resting place was the top Of
q raulesnake den, and pointed out the orifices
through which they passed; but he was in the
habit of coming there on Sunday evenings to shoot
ratdesnakes; that when he approached that even
ing, and saw me lying upon the den, he supposed
had been bitten and dead that he crept near
er and saw my respiration, and knew was alive
but discovered monstrous snake liking my hand,
and covering it with Shiny coating preparatory to
deguttion; that he made slight, nvolutary shud-
dering exclamation of my God! which drew the
snakes attention and caused him to turn his head,
when he discharged load of buckshot into his
neck, mangling and tearing him to pieces and thus
saved my life. He had scarcely told me this, which
took but a moment when rattles all around brought
us to recollection that we were not vet free from
danger.
We saw ten or fifteen large rattlesnakes approach
ing US from every quarter, with eyes glaring re-
vengefully barbed tongues thrusting threateningly
and rattles sounding alarmingly. They are brave
and cannot be intimdated, and will die over the
dead body of their companion sooner than desert
it. We knew the indomitable character of our
enemy, and NJ, and /, with his double barreled
gun, 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 Of snakes that night. M has killed one
hundred and seven Of them, the largest of which
had twenty-six rattles. He says the Indians, who
have been in the habit of hunting them for many
years, have killed much older ones, and have slain
thousands 4. .sa * e. a-
RoAANTIc.-The following thrilling extract is
taken from an unpublished romance: a
Listen to me, Gasparado When first I met
the lady Arabella in the brilliant saloon of the
Count de Pompereno, was struck with the spir-
tual lustre Of her dove like eyes, In short, my
friend, loved her, although knew nothing Of
her birth, fortune or station. Twas one moonlight
eve, in the garden Of the old chateau, when l
pressed her to become my own, my cherished bride
She shrank from me, saving:
You knowest not who am" e~e7g
81 care not" said I, passionately.
Then / dol" cried she in q piercing tone. az
am your unknown washer woman, and I'd thank
you to pay me for the six pieces washed for you
last week." liz s ss ef 5 ~
"Gasparado, left forever the sunny cline of
Italy broken hearted man." at gl z,4Ia5t .e-