Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-02
naiIu Aenudec youral.
ABOTT RALTTESNAKES.

The Lynchburg Republican publishes
the following ''snake stories.' and says
thew can be substantiated by indisputable
testimony. They are only some OF the
trif|ing experiences of the mountaineers
with the rattlesnakes
ssThere are in the Blue Ridge two dis
t;nct species,-the yellow and the black.
The yellow was formerly supposed to be
male. and the black 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 vel
low being very thick and short, and the
black long and slender. But both of these
species are beautifully ornamented with
colors, which in the sunlight partake of
all the coors ofthe rainbow. The yellow
snake 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
caurice 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. discoved his little daughter
two years DID, sitting up in bed, where
she had been placed when asleep by her
mother. The child was laughing immod-
erately, 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 rattle-nake, the largest
he had ever seen, was in bed with the child,
and actually eoiled around her body. His
presence instantly wrought change In
the conduct of the snake, which dexter
ously uncoled itself from around the child
and assumed an attitude of battle. The
mountaineers 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 50 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 con-
tinued sound, at which the child was
greatly delighted But upon the least
movement on the part of the almost dis
tracted parent, the snake would entirely
change the tone of his rafting, and swell
to almost twice his natural size. During,
all this time the child tightly grasped the
snake with its chubby little hands, and
ierked and twisted him about in very
rude and unceremonious manner, laugh
ing 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 the 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 shoulder
and out al the door, where he renewed the
signal for battle, but was quickly stretched
out stiff in death by the shot from the rifle.
The child cried immoderately for her pretty
plaything, and if set down in any part of
the dead reptile.
A party of young men in the same
neighborhood, only a 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 a
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 on the ground and were anus
ing themselves with telling stories, when
one of the party, who was thoroughly ac-
quainted with the habits and peculiarities
of the rattlesnake, suddenly called out
lie still, boys, don't move for anything.
There's rattlesnakes here: heard ones
rattles hit 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
touched by the snake. except that his rat
ties tapped lightly against his cap-brim as
he passed. The fourth huntsman heard
the rattle, sprang to his feet and assembled
atree with remarkable agility. This snake
was Immediately 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 rae
coons We're shot, and then search for the
snakes commenced. They were found in
hollow stump but few steps off, and
Ill 4 ~.