The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1855-08-01
Another Rattlesnake Story.

A correspondent Of the s.. Louis Demo-
crat, writing from Paoli, Kaosas Territory
June l7th, concludes his letter with the fol-
lowing thrilling sketch;
"on last Saturday evening the air was so
bewitchingly balmy, and the sky SO softly
veiled by shadowy clouds, that was So.
duced into a heightened stroll along the
bluffs, which proudly aspire to overlook
the outrageous woodlands on the one side,
and the sun-lit plains upon the other, until
| had reached an elevated pinacle, whose
picturesque and varied beauties ravished
all my senses and lost me in moast dreamy
reveries.
81 reclned upon the summit Of the rock
with my head upon my hand, until pres
emily it rolled away upon the cushion of
springy moss which grew there like an en-
erald diadem, and | was locked in that
strange slumber which leaves you semi-con.
scious, and yet restrains volition. / had
lain thus several minutes, with my left arm
stretched to its extent, when at the extrem-
tiles Of the fingers of that hand, there was
a sensation new and peculiar that sent q
thrill of pleasure to The mind and heart; il
was soothing, drawing, and agreeably it'll
ating as if the fingers we're dissolving a.
way in a delightful self absorption. just
then from this sort of blssfuI abandon, I
was startled by the report of gun shot
within a few PAGES Of me. l sprang to any
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 shrill.
keen, ringing rattle that ever penetrated hu-
man ear; and on looking down discovered
huge ratilesnake with CORY head quiver-
ing and writhing in the agonies Of death
and sending forth from his erect tail the
terrible tocsin that heard.
"From lis fearful propinquity began to
realize my position, but not until | heard
an explanation from NJ could fully pn.
derstand and appreciate its horrors.
"He told me thst my resting place was
the top Of raft esnake den. and pointed
out the oriices through which they passed;
that he was in the habit Of coming there
on Saturday evenings to shoot rattlespakes,
that when he approached that evening and
saw me lying upon the den, he supposed |
| had been bitten and WIS dead; that be
crept nearer and saw my respiration and
knew was alive, but discovered a mon
strous snake licking my hand and covering
it with slimy coating preparatory to de.
glutiton, that he made slight involuntary
shuddering exclamation Of my Godi which
drew the snakes attention and caused him
to turn his head when he discharged load
of buck. shot into his face and neck, mang-
ling and tearing them to pieces, and THUS
sayed nv life. He had scarcely told me
this, which took but but q moment, when
rattles all aroUnd brought us TO a recollec
iion that we were not yet free from danger.
We saw ten or fifteen large rattlesnakes ap-
preaching us from every quarter, with eyes
glaring revengefully, barbered tongues
thrustng threateningly and rattles sound
ing alarmingly. They are brave and can
not be intimidated and will die over the
) dead body of their companions sooner than
desert it. We knew the indomitable char :
acter of our enemy, and NJ. and with his
double bayreled gun, and my sticks and
stones fought our way out the best We could.
You may imagine that my nerves were
slightly agitated that evening, and that !
dreamed Of snakes that night. NJ. has kill
ed one hundred AMI seven Of them the
largest Of which had twenty six rattles. He
says the Indians who have been 10 the hab.
it of hunting them for many years, have
killed much older ones, and have slain
thousands.
f. 4 / ID II