Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-08-19
Thrilling Adventure with a
.Hs7l H11o R0ttlesnak

Ilal , bono Rattlesnake. ..
Last Monday morning, Mr.. Richard Ben
mott, student, who is enjoying summer
vacation at his fathers well.apponted man.
sion, a short distance southwest OF Dubuque,
took volume of Tennyson's poems in his
hand and wandered out to ropose beneath
some rocks which extended n greatful shade,
and also feast his soul upon the poetical
truths and bcatios breathed forth by the
poet laureate. He flung himself down up
on the grass and was soon lost in contempla.
ton of kings and princes, shady grottocs,
summer bowers and enchanted land, until
overcome by the themes presented and the
warm weather he fell asleep.
How long he lay thus he knew not; it
might have been for hours, but he was sud.
denly awakened by q peculiar rustling noise
close beside him. Instinctively he turned
his head to the point from whence the sound
proceeded, when he beheld sight which
filed him with horror, and which he, it an
ordinary man, will not be apt to forget until
his dying day. There, not four feet from
him, coiled up as if ready for spring. with
head erect, eyes darting fire, and tongue
playing like the forked lightning from the
bosom of the clouds, was an enormous rat
tlesnake, over eight fee. in length. 1t
would be hard to describe the feelings OF
Bennett at that moment. Fresh and Wig
orous, in the spring time Of life the world
with its dazzling future before him, hardly
q stones throw from his fathers house, death,
in its most terrible form, had apparently
come upon him. His presence Of mind
did not desert him, however, and he lay
perfectly motionless, fixing his eyes upon
those Of his snakeship, and waiting for new
developements This appeared to suit
the latter. Gradually he relaxed his
menacing attitude, and lowering his head,
Bennett, at the same time emitting a
murmuring, singing sound, which the i'm
promptu hearer describes as having been
really delightful. Nearer and nearer came
the snake, Bennett remaining perfectly mo.
tionless not daring to move for fear Of the
terrible fangs, until finally the monster actu-
ally craw'ed over his legs and nestled down
by his side like pet kitten, as much as to
say that he was well pleased with his new
companion, and would forgo hostilities.
Here was a dilemma, and how to get out
of it the difficulty. While Bennett was
speculating as to how this could be done,
and revolving over thousand plans, a
neighbor CHANGED to pass along, who
comprehended the whole situation at a
glance, and at mute gesture from Bennett
rushed to the house for assistance. He pro.
cured rife, and coming back, put the muz-
ze within two feet Of the head of the SER
pcnt and with a steady aim pulled the trig-
ger. There was a deafening report, and
the next instant the snake was writhng in his
death agony, while Bennett bounded from
the ground, and with the exclamation,
saved savcd" fell fainting in the arms
OF his prescrver.
We are aware that there are q few fea-
lures connected with this snake story some.
what remarkable, but we received the same
from reliable authority, and are not disposed
to question its vcracity. The snake doubt
less had his den in the rocks near Bennett,
aud seeing an intruder resolved to cultivate
a closer acquaintance. The skin was taken
from the monster, and is now hanging up
as a trophy where it can be witnessed by all
the curious. But it is safe to say that Ben.
nett will read Tennyson beneath the shadow
of those rocks no more. Dubuque Times.