Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-25
Some Snake Stories.

But hrSt let us remark tnat tnere Is no living
thing more generally and strangly misunder-
stood than the rattlesnake. Some persons
there are who, though they probably never saw
half dozen of these reptiles in their lives, and
reslly would not be able to recognize them but
for the rattles on their tails, talk learnedly of
their peculiarities of disposition and singular
beauty of appearance. 1t is even contended
that this snake will not bite until he has first
warned his victim of his presence whereas
the reverse is generally the truth. They have
been frequently teased and tormented until
they became so angry as to bite and kill them
selves, without ever showing any disposition to
rattle" at ALL Again, they will sometimes
use their rattles vigorously without making
the least attempt to bite. Sometimes they Will
pretend to be dead, at other times they Will
retreat before an enemy with great rapidlty,
and will occasionally spring ten or fifteen feet
TO reach anintruder without giving theleast sign
. There are in the Blue Ridge two distinct
species of this snake-the yellow and the black.
The yellow was formerly supposed to be the
male, and the black the female, but the tallacy
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 yellow being very. thick and
short, and the black long and slender But
both of these spscies are beautifully ornament
ed with flowers, which in the sunlight partake
of all the colors of the rainbow. The yellow
snake is much less liable to. rattle than the
blsck, and therefore most to be dreaded, though
No dependence need be placed In either, as it
depends altogether upon the caprice ct the
moment whether they retreat, advance, rattle
or play possum.
The partiaity of this snake for the company
of children has been frequently noticed among
the mountaineers, one instance Of which is Ia
m;liar to some of our Bedford readers. A few
wears 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 countcnance that it was greatly pleased The
father approached, when to bis horror, ne dis
covered that an enormous yellow rattlesnake,
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 ofthe snake, which dexetrously uncoiled
itself from around the child and assumed an
attitude Of battle. The mountaineer rifle hung
upon rack over the door, he grasped 1t ln his
hand with feelings which cannot be described,
and awaited an opportunity to shoot. tie had
no sooner done so than the snake commenced
caressing the child by rubbing his head tondly
against her cheek, and darting his torked tongue
almost in her eyes. Then he would raise his
tail and rattle 80 rapidly as to make one contln-
ued sound, at which the child was greatly de-
lighted
But upon the least movement on the part
Of the almost distracted parent, the snake
would entirely change the tone OF his rafting,
and swell to almost twice his natural size. Du-
ring all this time the child tightly grasped the
snake With it's chubby little hands, and jerked
and twisted him about in very rude and un-
eeremonious manner, laughing and talking to ner
horrid plaything, in a perfect scstacy OF de-
light. This state of things was finally ended by
movement of the parent, which so enraged
the snake that be drew himself up into tight
coil, leaped out Of bed, and would have buried
his tangs in the farmers face, had he not
quickly lodged to one side. AS it was, the ser
pent went over his shoulder; and out at the
door, where he renewed tho 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 todde towards the
dead reptile w '.'.
A party Of young men in the same neighbor-
hood only a few years ago, had very, interest
ing adventure with rattlesnakes, 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 rae
coon hunt. About midnight, the dogs ''treed'
family of coons in one of the largest trees in
the neighborhood. 1t was decided to wait uu-
til daylight to capture them, with the hope
that the cutting down of the tree could be dis
pensed with. The young men laid down upon
the ground and were amusing themselves with
telling stories, when one of the party, who was
thoroughly acquainted with the habits and pc
euiarities of the rattlesnake, suddenly called
out, "Lie still, boys; don't move for any thing
There rattlesnakes here l heard ones rattes
hit rock. ..
He had scarcely spoken when an enormous
rattlesnake came crawling over his foot, and
following his leg to the body, crossed over his
breast, striking his next neighbor's face, and
crawling over his mouth. The third party was
not touched by the snake, except that his rat
ties tapped lightly against his csp-brim as ne
passed. The fourth huntsman heard the rat
tie, spraug to his feet and assembled tree with
remarkable agility. This snake was immedla-
tely followed by another, not quite 80 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 Of, and though they were dragged out
with crooked sticks, and tormented in every
way, the female alone condescended to rattle
for them, or show any Ggns of anger They
were al killed, and the young man who had
gotten up the hunt has never since been known
70 GO out after cooas unless there was q very
deep snow on the ground. Rep.
JITAYHINGTON 8 OHIO R.R. COMFY.
Notice Is hereby given, that the Washington
and Ohio Railroad Company will apply to the