Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-26
SOME SNAKE sTORIEs.
Experiences OF mountainous i'm vir-
gtnias

gtnia.
From the Lynchburg Republican, July %.
In the little mountain legends which
we have heretofore recorded for the
amusement of our readers, we have stu
diously adhered to those best authenticat.
ed, aud though some of them may have
been somewhat exaggerated, our simple
narrative this morning has nothing of the
marvellous about it, and can be substan-
tiateA by indisputable testimony.
But first let us remark that there is no
living thing more generally and strangely
misunderstood than the rattlesnake.
Some persons there are who, though they
probably never saw half a dozen of these
reptiles in their lives, and really would
not be able TO recognize them bat for the
rattles on their tails, talk learnedly of
their peculiarities of disposition and sin
gular beauty of appearance. 1t is even
contended that this snake will not bite
until he has warned his victim
of his presence whereas the reverse is
generally the truth. They have been
frequently leased and tormented until
they became 30 angry as to bite and kill
themselves, without ever showing any
disposition to s'rattle" at all. Again,
they will sometimes use their rattles Wig
orously 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 rapidity, and
will occasionally spring ten or fifteen feet
to reach an intruder without giving the
least sign of warning.
There are in the Blue Ridge two dis
tinct species of this snake-the yellow
and the black. The yellow was former
ly supposed to be the male, and the black
the female, but the iallaey 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
species are beautifully ornamented with
flowers, which in the sunlight partake of
all The colors of the rainbow. The yell
low snake ia 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 whether
they retreat, advance, rattle or "play
possum.
The partially of this snake for the
company of children has been frequently
noticed among the mountainous, one in
stance of which is familiar to some of
our Bedford readers. A few years ago 8
farmer, whose cabin stood in one of the
widest localities about the mountains,
on coming into tie house one day, dis
covered his little daughter, two years old,
sitting up in bed, where she had beer
placed when asleep by her mother. The
child was laughing immoderately, aux
showing by its every action and expression
of countenance that it was greatly pleased
| The father approached, when to his hor
TOR he discovered that an enormous yellow
rattlesnake, the largest he had ever seen
was in bed with the child, and actual,
coiled around her body. His presenc
instantly wrought change in the conduc
of the snake, which dexlerously uncoile,
itself from around the child and as
sumed al attitude of battle. Tn
mountaineer's rifle hung upon rae
over the door; he 2rasped it in hi
hand with feelings which cannot be de
scribed, and awaited an opportunity t,
shoot, He had no sooner done so tina
the snake commenced caressing the chill
by rubbing his head fondly against be
cheek, and darling his forked tongu
almost in her eyes. Then he would rails
his tail and rattle so rapidly as to max
one continuous sound, at which the chill
was greatly delighted.
But upon the least movement on th
part of t1e almost distracted parent, th
snake would entirely change the tone of b
rafting, and swell to almosttwics his ma
ural size. During all this time the chi
tightly grasped the snake with its chubt
little hands, and jerked and twisted hi
about in very rude and unceremOnioI
manner, laughing and talking to her he
rid plaything, IN q perfect ecstacy of d
light. This state of things was final
ended by a movement Of the paren
which SO enrsged the snake that he Dire
himself up into 8 tight coil, leaped o
of bed, and would have buried his fan
in the farmers face, had he not quick
lodged to one side. As it was, the Sc
pent went over his shoulder, and out
: the door, where he renewed tue sign
, for battle, but was quickly stretched o.
stiff in death by shot from the rifle.
The child cried immoderately for b
pretty plaything, and if set down in al
part of the yard would Immediately to
| AZ dc HnaI Taptila
A party of young men in the sar
neighborhood only few years ago, h:
> a very interesting adventure with ratu
snakes, which may be. briefly state
1 Early in the fall of the year, and befo
q the snakes had ''housed up" for 4
winter, this party went out one mig
a: on a raccoon hunt. About midnigt
~ the dogs "treed y Q family of Coo
in one Of the largest trees
the neighborhood. TWAS decided to VS.
until daylight to capture them, with t
hope that the cutting down Of the tt
could be dispensed with. Tho you
men laid down upon the ground and We
amusing themselves with telling storit
when one of the party, who was thl
oughly acquainted with the habits a.
peCuliarities of the rattlesnake, sudden
called cut, ''Lie still boys; don't mo
for any thing. There's rattlesnakes hsr
heard ones rattles hit q rock"
He had scarcely spoken when ansent
NOUS rattlesnake came crawling over
q foot, and following his leg to the bod
crossed over his breast, striking his ne
= neiehbor's face, and crawling over
q mouth. The third party was not touch
: by the snake, except that his raft
i tapped lightly against his cap-brim as
passed. The fourth huntsm4n heard
q rattle, sprang to his feet and ascend
a tree with remarkable agility. 4
3 snake was followed by another, not gu
e so large, and then by four very SIN
, ones, all of which travelled the sal
e path.
s When daylight came the raccoons W.
: shot, and then the search for the snail
8 commenced. They were found in
e hollow stump, but few steps off, a
q though they were dragged out wi
d crooked sticks, and tormented IN eve
4 wav the female alone condescended