Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-07-26
Asleep on Rattlesnake Den--Fearful Po-
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Asleep on Rattlesnake Den--Fearful Pc.
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| correspondent of the Missouri Democrat
writing from Paoli, Kansas Territory, on the 18th
of june relates the following incident of his own
| experiences ~ Aiff'5 g itraf.H
| On last Sunday evening the air was so bewitch.
ingly balmy, and the sky so softly yelled by shad
owy clouds, that was sednced into a lengthen
ed stroll along the bluffs, which proudly aspire
| to overlook the outrageous woodlands on the
one side, and the sun-lit plains on the other, un
til reached an elevated pinnacle, so tall as to
command panoramic view, whose picturesque
and varied beauties ravished all my senses and
left me in most dreamy reveries.
| l reclined upon the summit of the rock with
my head upon my hand, until, presently, it roll
ed away upon the 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 Restraints volition. ] had
lain thus several minutes with my left arm stretch
cd to its extent, when at the extremitics 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
Initiating, as if the fingers were dissolvng away
in delightful self-absorption. Just then, from
this sort of blissful abandon, was startled by
the report of gun shot within few PAGES OF
me. sprung to my feet, and with establishment
saw my friend Mitchell standing near and gazing
at me with a fixed look of CHASTITY horror. Before
l could enquire what he meant, my attention was
caught by the most shrill, keen, ringing rattle
that ever penetrated human carr and on looking
down discovered huge rattlesnake with CORY
head, quivering and writing in the agonies Of
death, and sending forth from its erect tail the
terrible tocsin that heard
From his fearful propinquity, began to real
ize my position, but not until / heard an explain
alton from NJ. could fully understand aud APP
preciate its horrors
He told me that my resting place was the top
of rattlesnake den, and pointed out the orifices
through which they passed; that he was in the
habit of coming there on Sunday evenings to
shoot rattfesnakes; that when he approached that
evening, and saw me lying upon the den, he sup
posed had been bitten and was dead; that he
crept nearer and saw my respiration, and knew
that was alive but discovered a monstrous snake
licking my hand and covering it with Shiny
coating, preparatory to deglutition; that he made
a slight involuntary, shuddering exclamation of,
My, God. which drew the snake: attention and
caused him to turn his head, when he discharged
a load OF buck-shot into his face and neck, mang-
ling and tearing them to pieces, and thus saved
my life.
He had scarcely told me this, which took but,
moment, when rattles all round brought us to
recollection that we Were not yet free from dam
ger. We saw ten or fifteen large rattlesnakes
approaching us from every quarter with eyes
garing revcngefully, barbed tongues thrusting
threatningly and rattles sounding alarmingly.-
They are brave and cannot be intimidated, and
will die over the dead body of their companion
sooner than desert it. We knew the indomita-
bic character of our enemy, and NJ and l. with
his doublc-barreled gun, andmy sticks and stones
fought our way out as best we could. You may
imagine that my nerves were slightly agitated
~ tlakv &C 4I,,t
night. M. has killed one hundred and seven of
them-the largest Of which had twenty-seven rat
ties. He SAYS the Indians who have been in the
habit of hunting them for many Years. have kill
ed much older ones, ands Lave slain thousands.
The Boston Herald is FSSponsble forthc follow
ing. The venerable and voluble old female snuff
taker is a perfect characters in her way She is
a feminine "brick." Hear her upon question
of Morals and Wag- But we have not come to
that yet Read on:
Now, there's them boys--young men they re
called-boys call them. There they are-Ab-
ncr and Daniel-smart bOys-good family-very
respectable folks-very-v-c-r-y! Known 'cm
ever so long-live down in Springfeld-folks
well to do in the world-pious folks, too And
there's them boys, Abner and Daniel. Both of
em-Abner twenty-five, Daniel twcnty-two.-
There they arc Folks church-goin' people Or
thodox. There's them boys. Opposed to the
liquor law-both of 'cm. Bad as infdcls. Sup
pose they don't b'lecve in no He'll. It's awful.
Perfectly awful. Awful! Both Of EN-.
Here the venerable matron took an alarming
pinch of snutf-mind, she had been punctuating
the above remarks with constant pinchcs, but here
she came to a full stop with one that was really
wonderful. She survived it, however, and then
went on. Both them boys took notion to ride.
Sunday, too. Sabbath breakn'. What d. they
care! All days one to them, 'spose. Perhaps
don't b'leeve in no Sabbath Don't b'lceve in
no nothin'. Took a notion to go out on a ride.
Down they went to the stables. Livery stables
They went to livery stable. And there they
hired a--they hired a--let me see; what 'cGS it
they hiredl'
''Carriage?' suggested my friend.
No, no; wait minute; what 'caS lit They
hired a--a-'
: .Chasel-buggyl-c limited in
rapid succession.
No, no, no; wait minute I'll think ont in
aminute. They hired a-they hired a-trhdt was
it they hircd!'
'Cart?-tilbury!-p hnton?-gig?' he again
suggested, really growing curious to know what
1t mdS they hired.
No, no, no Lord-a-massy, what was i'll
Let me see. 1t was ait was "a Here she
took another alarming pinch.
Handcart!-w heelborrow!-dorkGy carti-
dirt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. wagon'
OF EN-. 1t was ait was a-sake's alive, what
was the name of it?'
'Fire-engine''-loc omotive!--go-cartl-Ju
gerautl-balloonl- cartl' broke out
my friend, in desperation.
No, no, no. Dowait aminute. Lord-a-mas-
ssy, it's strange forget it. They hired a-thcy
hired "a
/ Here she came to dead pause, meditated, and
took snuff largely i'
The voluble old lady got hold of it at last
They had hired a ''uehiete"-a species of wagon
she had not heard of before .. ....
WORTH KNowING.-One pound of green cop
peras Costing seven cents) dissolved in one quart
of water ana poured down privy, will etfectu-
all concentrate and destroy the foulest SMELLS
for water closets on board ships and steamboats,,
about hotels and other places there is nothing so
nice to cleanse and purify those places, as simple
green copperas, dissolved; and for sick rooms it
may be placed under the bed in anything which
will hold water, and thus render hospital or
other places of the sick free from unpleasant
n 4. 4. Il.