New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-09
THRILLING ADVENTURE.

| Fight with a Large RattIesuake- -Fortun.
1he A dvenLure.
| To the Editor of the Louisville Courier:
FRANKFORT, Ky, July 20, 186S.-Yester-
| day it fell to my lot to nave quite rare
| adventure for these parts. 1t was a very
| sbor5 one, but to me very thrilling one.
| At four O'Clock l was expected to preach
| in what is called Todd's schoolhouse, about
| five miles north of Frankfort, on the Owen
ton pike. 1t is hardly necessary to add
that it was very hot day, as everybody
in this latitude is aware that we have had
several hot days of late. AT the top of the
long hill called Mullins Hill" there are
woods and underground, SHADY grots and
caves of cool recess" where the blackber-
ry bush lays forth its tempting fruit IN lux
urious profusion; and on the whole, the
''spot" is one calculated to woo one from
the glaring, dosty pike, to indulge in its
preferred refreshments. Being excessively
hot-very fond of the berries, and having
ample time to meet my appointment, l
yielded to my inclinatiou-sought the
shade and began to enjoy the delicious ber-
ries. While thus engaged, my attention
was attracted by a peculiar noise, some
what resembling that made by the locust
and supposing it to be one of these,
with a little variation to its song,
proceeded in the enjoyment, until
the noise was repeated, and my curiosity
was excited to see the locust that bad such
"a peculiar song. This curiosity was fully
satisfied when / saw FIVE feet from me
huge, glistening rattlesnake, apparently
ready for battle. He was in an opening at
my front, dense mattings of briars to the
right and left, and my horse Immediately
behind me-the bride rein over my right
arm. My feelings can better be imagined
than described during the brief interval
thai followed and ii should tell you the
multitude of thoughts that rushed through
nay brain in rapid succession it would take
about all your space. / knew very little
of its modes of attack, bus apparently it
was Just ready to make its spring, conse-
quently the thought of mounting my horse
seemed hardly practicable, and escape
through the briars on either side was an
impossibility. kept my eye on the fierce,
shining creature, and seemed transfiXed for
an instant, and before l had time to m Ike
up my mind what to do with terrific fierce
ness he made spring at me. l had
small closed umbrella in my hand, which
threw out to check him. His fangs caught
In it, and before he could recover him
self seized stick (which providentially
lay close to my handy and gave him such
a stunning blow the first time that
be was unable to defend himself, and
/ soon dispatched him. I have often heard
that they usually have mates near them,
but under the surrounding circumstances
| did not crave an ocular demonstration OF
that fac. and concluded to curtail for the
present further enjoyment OF the ''shady
grots" and delicious berries. / threw him
out in the pike, mounted my horse, and
rode off tiinmphantly over that serpent. l
was very sorry afteFward that / did not
capture his rattlers, but had no knife, and
did not even take time to count them, but
there appeared to be Twelve or fifteen, and
his body about four or FIVE feet in length.
had visions Of comrades in ambush, and |
am almost ashamed to acknowledge that
it was with difficulty that / ''retreated in
good order.n On my return, about two
hours afterward, his carcass had disap-
peared; and, very strange, there were five
timid rabbits on the pike in close proximity
to the encounter. Could they have ha0
anything to do with it? Why there? This
was little mysterieus. But my staying
the serpent and escaping from the face OF
q terrible death are facts for which am
most devontly thankful.
Respectfully, Rev. W. T. EGBERT.