Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-08
(From the Note Book of Traveller.l
Sleeping with a Rattlesnake

1t was, think-for have not my memo
randum book of the day before me-in the
month of August, 1886, that found myself
wandering through the great inlet seas that
begirt our Western country-Cf it is not
Western nOac, it used TO be some time or other,
and that too since the great rain storm in
Noah's time until | brought up at Fort
Crawford, Green Bay. At this point, Capt.
f. B. Birdsall, of the Third United States
Infantry, (poor fellow he has " fought his last
battle" and now slumbers with the dead of a
thousand years ago. procured Mackinaw
boats sufficient number to accommodate the
whole detachment, which consisted of about
one hundred and fifty United States Dragons,
on their way to Fort Des Mones, Oh the
Mississippi riYer-each boat accommodating
some twelve or fifteen soldiers, with the neces-
sary camp equipage, provisions, &c Thus pro-
vded and fully proy!siOned for the journey, the
oars were let fall, and We threaded our way up
the Fox River, portion of the way quite
rapid stream, with many formidable rapids,
with grand and lesser chutes to pass over,
until we arrived at Fort Winnebago, post at
that time considered beyond the reach of civil
lization A portage OF half mile from the
Fox to the Ouisconsin River, aud our boats
were again launched, and we pursued our way
down the last named river until we struck the
Mississippi, some few miles below Prairie du
Chen. | should, perhaps have stated, ere
this that it was our invariable custom to sleep
beneath our tents on shore every night
Soon after striking the Mississippi, our tents
were pitched one night as usual. In due time
the guards were set-silcnce rcigned in the
little army-and naught was to be heard save
the regular tread of the night watch, as he
paced his silent round. had no idea when |
turned IN that night that | was to be uncere-
moniously turned ont before morning But |
was mistaken During the night, our camp
was visited by most furious rain storm. The
water descended in torrents, and disturbed III
his lurking place an enormous rattlcsnakc who,
it would seem, took up his line of march with,
presume, no very correct idea of his destina-
ton, but with commendable desire, | doubt
not, to provide himself with shelter from the
ptiless storm that was raging about, and in
vading his dominions, the broad forest, Of which
he had probably been an undisturbed occupant
for many years.
| cannot for one moment imagine that his
snakeship had any particular pcnctan for my
quarters, but it so happened that about one
o'clock at night or rather morning, he brought
up at my tent, and acting upon the old proverb
perhaps it is not proverb, only saying-of
"any port in storm" he pitched i'll, without
as much as saying, BY your leave sir" aud
the first intimation afforded me that | was to
be honored with his distinguished presence was
the fact that he was insinuating his cold, wet
and horrid carcasse directly across my legs
Just above the knee joints. Having obtruded
himself thus far into good society, he seemed
I l., ,eol |,
and, for ought | knew, with the rest of man
kind, and the comfortable quarters into which
he had thus thrust himself unbdden for
am very certain, had been permitted to make
choice of a companion for the night, my tend
encies would not have been in that direction
But here he was, warm, quiet and free from
the storm, and seemed nightly inclined, so far
as could discover, to tarry for q while. But
by this time | began fully to realise my own
position. | had assumed, in the first place, as
all the indications were that way, that it was
snake and my imagination, i'll the second
place led me to suppose it was ratteSnake
OF course | had no positive knowledge on the
subject, for his entrance had been uuannounc-
ed, but | thought had right to make
that assumption, and to govern myself accord
ingy
But the thought of such companion was
horrible \ sleeping partner to-,a snake so
forbidden i'll every possible aspect, that even at
this time, although about nineteen years have
rolled over the incident, it makes me shuddcT
through every limb to think of But that was
not the question uppermost in my mind at that
time The question was How AIN | to get
rid of him p And it was nice question too
one more easily conceived than executed. |
knew the fix was in-I was fully aware of my
position for my presence OF mind had not for
one moment deserted me.
Although an intruder although he had pre-
sumcd to poach upon my manor without a
| l;cense-sti | was aware that this king OF his
species was to be treated with great respect
and consideration, until had got, at least be
yond the reach of his murdcrous fangS. |
commenced, therefore, the process of sliding my
| legs out from under hinl-not, to be sure, ut a
pace Of two-forty-but initiating more the
! speed of the snail, and almost holding my breath
during the operation. | was fully aware that
my only safety lay in this Perhaps | might
| have got rid of him in more summary way,
| but in doing it, perhaps | might have placed
him in a position unsuted to his dignity, and
contrary to his ideas of propricty and most
probably retaliation on his part would have
! followed. and should have como out Of the
contest second best. But | found my plan
working well, and perseverance in its execution.
BY dint Of great patience, finally, after a
labor Of some ten minutes or more, succeeded
in finding myself free from my disgusting
companion. | at once threw off the mosquito
bar that surrounded my ground bed, stepped
over my blankets, drew on my boots as matter
of precaution, not knowing the precise locality
of my pleasing and amiabe companion at this
time. | now seized a shillalah that / knew
was standing in corner Of my tent, for it was
as dark as Egyptian darkness itself, ant