Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-10-06


"There must be some sort of a hiding
place where the rafting eels have crepl
into and sneaked themselves snug away
exclaimed Job, determinedly and angri.
ly as he rose to his feet and drove the
keen edged weapon into the trunk of ar
old tree that had been blown down by 9
storm.
As he did so sharp rattle was heard
in dense, almost impenetrable thicket
some ten or twelve feet behind where be
stood. -
"Look out, lads there's the ugly
varmints! and we'll have them ali
around us in the shake of a buck Is
tail p cried old Job, turning in the d.
rection in which. the ominous warning
had come. Haf
In few minutes two sturdy fellows,
by Jobs order, we're clearing away the
entangled growth of bushes; and after
working hard for half an hour, they sue.
ceeded in solving the mystery, in the
discovery of the hiding place Of the rep.
tiles.
1t was an irregular cavern, or rather
natural pit, whose sides were almost
perpendicular, and about thirteen OF
fourteen feet deep. On the western
edge of this natural well, a large tree
had been growing, and had fallen across
the top in such a manner that, the
roots resting on one side and the branch
es on the other, it formed complete
bridge across. The bottom of the pit
was literally swarming with the loath-
some serpents, which no sooner per-
ceived the hunters than they set up a
hideous noise, rattling and Kissing vio-
lently
The only entrance to the reLreat was
an opening in the side, some twelve feet
below the ground; and in order that
none of the reptiles should escape thro'
this, the hunters, obtaining water from
a neighborins spring, made tough
paste of a quantity of the rich mold
laying about, and dropping it down,
rammed it very tightly into the opening
thus plugging it entirely up. And now
commenced the slaughter. A volley
that did much execution was fred down
into the midst of the serpents, which
redoubled their previous angry manifes-
tations. Round upon round was hurled
upon the entrapped rattlesnakes, which
finding no way of getting out of the fa-
tai confinement, moved round and round
their prison with astonishing celebrity.
jesse Slocum, Jobs eldest son, at
last becoming tired of firing, seized his
rudely constructed lance, and creeping
midway out upon the trunk ofthe fallen
tree. commenced to drive the sharp
edge of the plane-iron into the bodies
and heads of the writhing, wriggling
snakes, which now presented horrid
appearance. Covered with their own
blood, the furious reptiles leaping and
almost flying around their den, render
ed the sides thereof. to the height of
six or eight feet red and CORY.
For some time Jesse Slocum occupied
his osition, dealing death below; when
one of his companions, noticing a pecu-
liar swaying motion of the tree called to
him to come off of it or there might be
an accident. At this he burst into a
hearty laugh, and renewing bis work
with increased vigor, exclaimed
off you'll only hush up, I'll have
some nice rattlesnake pie ready for you
in very little while"
As he finished this remark huge
serpent emerged from the almost seeth-
ing mass directly under him; on per-
ceiving which he raised his weapon as
high as possible, and taking true aim,
delivered terrible blow directly upon
the serpent's neck. But even as he did
40 the further end of the tree split, and
sunk with harsh scraping noise, about
half way down the side of the horrid
we'll, where resting moment it fell
with dull thump to the bottom.
Jesse was powerful, heavily built
man; and when he saw his danger, he
had like lightning managed to turn him
self completely around and clasp the
trunk with both arms. As the tree
fell, the roots of which held, however.
the shock caused him to slip from the
upper to the under side, SO that he was
now compelled to support his weight in
that perilous position. Neither could
be move, for should be attempt to re-
cover himsel be would inevitably fall
into the reeking, loathsome mass be-
meath, where he would have become the
victim of those rattlesnakes which had
as yet escaped their doom Many of
the venomous reptiles would now and
then strike furiously at Jesse, or at his
coouskin cap, that had dropped from his
head among them. Lasf
Finding himself fast giving out, he
called in choking, husky voice to one
of his companions:
"Shoot me-shoot me, Bill, for heav-
ems sake +! You cant save me, don't let
me fall in alive" "-'---'-i-t
The father, who to this moment SEEM
ed rooted to the ground with his sons
danger, as the tones of the fearful en-
treaty fell on his ear. started, and turn
ing to those around him, inquired in a
cool, firm tone, "Have any Of you any
thongsp' ..-.'---f Z aH
"Here are somev' cried several in a
breath. ~