Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-06-22
From Porter's Spirit Of the Times
THE SNAKES OF BOLTON.


ny JERRY DAsHER.
! DEAR SPiRIT;--It IVES in tho fall of SO, In
company with two friends, jerks and Jeena. that
took tho cars for the country, to engage in the
exhiliraung sports Of the field. Our point of des.
tiration was located some twenty miles from Hart
ford in the modest little State Of Connecticut
Reader, did you ever hear Of Bolton2 Well then.
TO be brief, 1t Is one eternal mass Of rocks
rocks below, rocks above, and rocks on every side
The principal commodity Of this inland town is
snakes. One is distinguished from another bv the
number ofruttles, for 10 size they do not vafy.-
stranger Is welcomed Oh every side by their note
Of warning; and agreeable sensation il 7 reduces
in the hunter can assure you, from personal OK.
perienee. Gamo was plenty one brace of pointers
worked admirably, and in loss than twenty min
u es had bagged each brace Of ine partridges;
when, rs ] was crawling through some thick set
underbrush something bit me on the calf Of my loft
leg; when, suddenly dropping my gun, l darted
forward, uttering loud cry, which sOon brought
my companions to the spot | could only point
to M leg, while the word "ratto snake" troubled
and died upon my lipa. They Instantly compre
hended my case, and rolling up my buckskins.
they discovered red spot about the sizo OF dol.
lar-but no puncture was disoernible. This fact
brought momentary relief but, on the thought
that the needlelike fangs which instils the poison
leave no perceptble mark, even to tie most prac-
tced eyes Of physician, grooned at the thought
were inexperienced myself, and the only RENE.
dy could suggest, was the oil Of the snake which
had bitten me, applied externally to the wound.
In obedience to this suggestion, my companions
| disappeared In few moments, heard the re-
port OF gun, followed by shout which intui.
lively felt proclaimed the capture of nv enemy.
In moment, Jack rushed forward, and applied
what seemed piece of warm flesh in cloth, and
rubbed the wound briskly with il. In Rnawer In
my query Of whore he found ip Jack replied.-
sitting just where it fastened it's deadly fangs
on you"
"Aud here is the varmint at full length said
Jeems, coming forward at this moment, and hold
ing before my astonished eyes an immense deoapi
tated hen turkey.
slowly raised myself to sitting posture in
clined my head forward, and thore beheld sight.
My friend jerks, man whom for the last Eve
minutes bad blessed continuously for saving my
| life, and aE,wcrcd praises upon his unselfsh de.
yotion, was modestly rubbing my limb with a tur
keys head.
Tho corn was acknowledged aud request,
| backed by the promise ofa wOodoock and cham
pagne supper, to "keep shady" was fatty refused.
There IS scarcely town but what boasts Of it's
natural curiosity and Bolton is not an exception
to the rulo the landlord Of the village tavern in
formed US, indicating with bis fnge. o ledge OF
rocks that lowered high above its neighbors
"Ihere,' said he, at tho base of that high ledge,
's ah aparture capable Of admitting n human bedy,
whleh has never been explored; unless, indeed, by
an Indian woman long years ago whom tradition
reports as undertaking the task for gallon of lio
uor. She was seen BY many to enter, and that
was the last ever heard of ber. A few venture
some spirits have penetrated ii far enough TO know
that within the bosom of that mountain rock is n
waterfall that roars and thunders like another Nj
agAra."
"Jorry Dasher," exclaimed Jeems, az challenge
you to enter this mysterious cavity with me-"
"Accepted" said L, promptly,
"And /, too" said Jonks
We threw up for choice Of entrance, and Jack
jerks won it, your humble servant won the pext.
and Jeems came last. So, Immediately after en-
tering, grasped Jack by the lOwer extreniities.
while Peyton, in turn, grasped mo, and thus we
commenced our pefegrination. The cavity, for
4 some distance, was comparatively free from oh.
strueuon, and we glided along quite rapidly,
! However, the further wo adyanond the more diff
eulties we had to encounter in tho windngs of the
! passage, Mt every turn Of which, sharp, iuttina
angels met us, disputing our passage inch by inch
Egyptian darkness prevailed, in fact, it was dark.
ness multiplied by ten. Tho opening Wns closed
until We were compelled to lie almost fiat. and
worm ourselves along. Al length, we heard an
indistinct murmuTing, which gradually, as we ad-
yaneed, assumed the tone
"0fa tremendous cataract laundering in It's soli-
tude."
But tho roar Of tho cascade was drowned hy tho
cry of agony that burst from the lips Of Jonks, fol-
lowed by the cry OF, "Back cut" in a terrified
voice. That some startling danger threatened US
we knew full we'll, but what it was we could not
determine.
"Bnck out, back out--for heavens sake, back p
he cried, as he struggled backward, pushing me-
and l, in turn, pushing Jeems-each in turn saw
agely thTusting the other in our impetuous retro
grade movement. When, at length wo found the
mouth OF tho cdvo, the ght revealed the secret oil
the terrible CONSERVATION that seized upon poor
jerks, in tho shape of his faYorile pointer W hose
ever-wagging tail coming in contact with his mas
ter's face, had vividly enhanced the suppOsitiou
that ho had encroaehed into den Of rattlesn axes
As he backed, the dog backed, tco, constantly
| plugging him on one cheek, then on the other,
with his tail, imparIing the notion that he was
pursued by huge snake, who was lubricating
him preparatory TO taking him for a lunch. Sew
eral of the villagers were gathered, who, on seong
the blood steamng from our faces and clothes torn
into ribbons wished to be enlightened in regard to
the cause.
jerks assured them that lot Of boa constructors
forty feet In length, had chased US. Some Of them
looked inerdulous and one in particular ventured
to suggest that it sounded rather a5hy. Whsreup-
on, jerks offered to wager a hundred dollars on
the veracity Of his statement, and whoever rhoud
take the bet to proceed in the peril Of the jour
ney until they found the bCa II il needless to
say that his was refused. We took the eYenin Z
train for home, calling it quits--one being bitten
to death by II turkey, the other swallowed by 4
dogs tail.