Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-13


In Col. AddisonS Traits end Sss6isgse 49,
clo-Tndian life, Just issued n Londoh5 E 6'9111p
ous story Of one Of the aathoS6 ezPt1zennns
lone evening / returned morn lllen,naaly
fatigued to my bungalow, and hsslsp esSgIVE
bed; was soon asleep, and, as usual, aEe e99G
of Europe and her charms. SuddsalT Ma,
awakened by a cold object resting OnIny asua.
TnvoluntariIy l raised my other arm teWeg1B
it it gIided rapidly ofS+-NOt, A6WesssS ~ =,
had afflicted its dreadful bite; fF IL plalnAE-
felt the pain, which though not asatR WAA
singing, resembling the punctnro 0( .. bet.
instrument or sudden scald. The tsct hQWr.
ever, was obvious. had been bitten by .,
snake, and was probably . dead man. 4.
sprang from my bed, rushed 70 my table.
seized one of my raZOrs, and without he1tIAs
tiun cut out the bitten part actually
scoopcd out piece as large as q nut; then,
with my arm bleeding profuscly, rushed TO-
wards the lamp and catching It up, burnt the
wounded part for several secondS By this
time several of my servants had arrived,
alarmed by my cries One hastened OF for
assistant surgeon, who lived next door, while
the others began to question me. In broken
sentences explained 10 them my situation.
They were Mortified. While one poure1 eau
de luce into the dreadful self-inflictcd cash,
the others prepared a portion Of the same
medicine diluted in water, which hastily
swallowed. BY this time l was more calm,
and when DR.. Lisson arrived l was collected
enough to view my situation with becoming
philosophy. While he was dressing my aVm
and binding it up took advantage Of the d.
lence and awe Of the moment, to signify to
him my last wishes in case Of my death.
stated the manner in which desired 70 be
buried, the style Of letters wished written to
my relations, the way in which wanted my
little remaining property to be disposed or
The doctor was tempted to shed tears. The
surrounding khitmutgars stood In mute agony
Of woe. Lisson, however, hoped ] had cut
deep enough, and assured me he thought the
virus had not had time to enter the system.
Let US at least he said, 'hayC the consolation
of destroying the reptile that has thus endan.
gered your life Here, my men, bring each
soft cane and let US attack the monster t0geth.
err The men ran out and camc back each
armed with plant bamboo, single stroke
Of which will instantly kill the most dreadful
snake in India. And now surround the bed;
the reptile cannot have got away. Gently,
gently keep your eyes steadily fixed. He
must be under the pillow. Directly raised
it to be ready to strike. Ha, there he ISL Tho
servant at once struck at tho object pointed
out, and succeeded in killing it. They held
it up, when lOl it proved to be poor lizard,
a harmless animal, which, beyond the blister.
ing drop he had let fall on my arm, bears no
venom. The doctor burst intoa roar Of laugh
ter. The black rascals joined in it The next
week was forced to get two months leave,
for whenever l appeared with my arm in Q
sling, my dying words were quoted to nc.
| was almost tcascd to death, because when
fancied had been bitten by q snake, had
chosen to take precautionary measures"