The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-07-12
Another Rattlesnake Story.
A correspondent Of the st. Louis De-

II correspondent Ol Ihe o1' LouiS be"I |
ocras. writing from Paoli, Kansas Terri,
tory, June 18th, concludes his letter with
the following thrilling sketch;
On last Sunday evening the air was
so bewitchingly balmy, and the sky 50
softly veiled by shadowy clouds, that |
was seduced into enlightened stroll along
the bluffs, which proudly aspire to over
look the outrageous woodlands on the
one side, and the sun-lit plains upon the
other, until reached an elevated pima
Gle, so tall as to command panoramic
view, whose picturesque and varied beau.
lies rayishcd all my senses and lost me
in most dreamy reveries.
! reclned upon the summit Of the rock
with my head upon my hand, until, pres.
emily, il rolled away upon the cushion Of
sprngy moss which grew there like an
emerald diadem. and was locked in that
strange slumber which leaves you semi
conscious, and yet restrains ycllion.-
| had lain thus several minutes, with my
left arm stretched to its extent. when at
the extremities Of the fingers oGLhat hand,
there was sensation new and peculiar
that sent thrill of pleasure to the mind
and heart it was soothing, drawing, and
agreeable titillating, as if the fingers
were dissolving away in delightful self
absorption. Just then, from this sort of
blissful abandon, was startled by the
report of gunshot within a few PAGES Of
me. Isprang to my feet, and with aston
ishment, saw my friend Mitchell standing
near and gazing at me with a fixed lool
of ghastly horror. Before conld inquire
what lie meant. my attention was caugh
by the sound Of the most shrill, keen
ringing rattle that ever penetrated human
ear; and on looking down | discovered
a huge rattlesnake with CORY head, quiv
ering and wrilhing in the agonies of death
and sending fourth from his erect tail the
terrible tocsin that heard.
From his fearful propinquity l begar
to realize my position, but not until
heard an explanation from NJ. could
fully understand and appreciate its hor
rors,
He told me that my resting place wa
the top of rattlesnake den and pointed
out the orfces through which they pas
sed that he was in the habit Of comm!
there on Sunday evenings TO shoot raj
! llesnakes, that when he approached tha
! evening and he saw me lying upon tn
den, he supposed had been bitten an
was dead that he crept nearer and sa'
my respiration and knew | was alive D'
: discovered a monstrous snake licking m
hand and covering it with a Shiny Goa
ing, preparatory 10 delu;ition, that h
? made a slight involuntary, shudderln
exclamation of my God which drew tn
t snake S attention and caused him to tur
his head, when he discharged load
buck.shot into his face and neck, mang
d ling and tearing them to pieces and thu
T. saved my life. He had scarcely told m
this. which took but moment; Whe
v rattles all around brought us to reco
d lection that we were not yet free iro
,e danger. We saw ten or fifteen large ra
lIesHakes approaching US from evel e,
quarter, with eyes glaring revengetull
barbed tongues thrusting threatening
and ratlles sounding alarmngly. lh'
are brave and cannot be inundated ar
al will die over the dead body of their cor
e panions sooner than desert it. We kne
lg the indomitable character of our enem
lie and NJ. and with his double bareled-gu
as and my sticks and stones, fought our WI
oi out as best we could. You may imagi
ne that my nerves were slightly aglt;at
er that evening, and that | dreamed
IL snakes that night. N. has killed o
as hundred and seven of them-the larg,
ng of which had twenty-six rattles.
I'D saws the Indians who have been in
en- habit Of hunting them for many yea
n have killed much older ones. and ha
n slain thousands.
Il