The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-08-19

after they were loaded powerful engine
was attached and the train started on its
special journey.
About Rattlesnakes.
The LyncAburg Republican publishes the
following "snake stories," and says they
can be substantiated by indisputable testi-
mony. They are only some of the trifing
experiences of the mountaineers with the
rattlesnakes.
"There are in the Blue Ridge two dis
tinct species,-the yellow and the black
The yellow was formerly supposed to be
the male, and the black the female; but
the fallacy of that opinion is demonstrated
by the fact that in many localities only one
of these kinds is ever seen, and also by the
great difference in size and form,-the yell
low being very thick and short, and the
black long and slender. But both of these
species are beautifully ornamented with
flowers, which in the sunlight partake of
all the colors of the rainbow. The yellow
is much less liable to rattle than the black,
and therefore most to be dreaded, though
no dependence need be placed in either, as
it depends altogether upon the caprice of
the moment when they retreat, advance,
rattle, or play possum.' The partiality
of this snake for the company of children
has been frequently noticed among the
mountaineers, one instance of which is
familiar to some of our Bedford readers
A few years ago farmer whose cabin
stood in one of the widest localities about
the mountains, on coming into the house
one day discovered his little daughter, two
years old, sitting up in bed, where she had
been placed when asleep by her mother
The child was laughing immoderately, and
showing by its every action and expression
of countenance that it was greatly pleased.
The father approached, when to his horror
he discovered that an enormous yellow rat
tlesnake, the largest he had ever seen, was
in bed with the child, and actually coiled
around her body. His presence instantly
wrought change in the conduct of the
snake, which dexterously uncoiled itself
from around the child and assumed an atti-
tude of battle. The mountaineer's rifle
hung upon rack over the door; he grasped
it in his hand with feelings which cannot
be described, and awaited an opportunity
to shoot.
"He had no sooner done SO than the
snake commenced caressing the child by
rubbing his head fondly against her cheek,
and darting his forked tongue almost In
her eyes. Then he would raise his tail and
rattle so rapidly as to make one continued
sound, at which the child was greatly
delighted. But upon the least movement
on the part of the almost distracted parent,
the snake would entirely change the tone
of his rattllng and swell to almost twice
his natural size. During all this time the
child tightly grasped the snake with its
chubby little hands, and ,jerked and twisted
him about in very rude and unceremoni-
GUS manner laughing and talking to her
horrid plaything in perfect ecstasy of
delight. This state of things was finally
ended by movement of the parent, which
so enraged the snake that he drew himself
up into tight coil, leaped out of bed, and
would have buried his fangs in the farmers
face had he not quickly lodged to one side.
As it was, the serpent went over his Shout
der and out at the door, where he renewed
the signal for battle, but was quickly
stretched out stiff in death by shot from
the rifle. The child cried immoderately
for her pretty plaything, and if set down
in any part of the yard would Immediately
toddle toward the dead reptile.
GA party of young men in the same
neighborhood, only few years ago, had
very interesting adventure with rattle
snakes, which may be briefly stated. Early
in the fall of the year, and before the
snakes had housed up for the winter,
this party went out one night on a raccoon
hunt. About midnight the dogs freed
family of coons in one of the largest trees
in the neighborhood. 1t was decided to
wait until daylight to capture them, with
the hope that the cutting down of the tree
could be dispensed with. The young men
lay down upon the ground, and were anus
ing themselves with telling stories, when
one of the party, who was thoroughly
acquainted with the habits and peculiari
ties of the rattlesnake suddenly called out,
Lie still, boys, don't move for anything.
There's rattlesnakes here; I heard ones
rattles hit a rock He had scarcely spoken
when an enormous rattlesnake came crawl
ing over his foot, and following his leg to
the body, crossed over his breast, striking
his next neighbours face, and crawling over
his mouth. The third party was not touch
ed by the snake except that his rattles tap
ped lightly against his cap-brim as he pass
ed. The fourth huntsman heard the rattle,
sprang to his feee and assembled tree with
remarkable agility. This snake was i'm
mediately followed by another, not quite
SO large, and then by four very small ones,
all of which travelled precisely the same
path. When daylight came the raccoons
were shot, and then the search for the
snakes commenced. They were found in
hollow stump, but few steps off, and
were all killed."