The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-23
A Snake Story.
THE RULING PASSION sTRoNG-AFTER DEATH
IN A RATTLESNAKE.

1dE RUL1NG PASSION SIRONG-AfIEB UEAId
IN A RATTLEsNAKE.
Across the Westfeld river, where it rolls
down among the rocky hills of Berkshire, just
before it sweeps out upon the plain to join the
smooth Connecticut there is massive stone
dam. The vexed waters beat against it; it
never trembles. They seek to burrow beneath;
its bed is upon the very bones of the everlast-
ing hills A few Of the topmost waves look
over the brink and, pushed by those behind,
fall white and shivering down the abyss below.
But those that brawled the loudest as they
rushed down the mountains, and rallied at the
stoney barrier with many noisy echo, just
bruise their sides against the steadfast wall and
glide submissive through hidden culvert, glad
to escape by toilsome service, working an un-
derground passage for themselves through the
iron wheel of Jessup & Laains paper mill.
Here is one of those rugged Businesses that
seem more and more out of place amid our
all-conquering civilization, but which will re-
main wild and rugged till every valley shall
be exalted, every mountain and hill laid low.
Among such solitudes, rough, rocky and
unsubdued, slowly sinking crests of dead and
dying mountain chains-are still found, from
time to time, dark witnesses of creation fateful
mystery, loathsome reptiles bearing death in
their fangs, malice in their hearts and rattles
on their tailsl While the workmen we're
building this mill at Salmon Falls on the
Westfeld River, one of these crawling outcasts
of creation, descendants no doubt of that
"pesky sarpent' renowned in Springheld's
ancient ballad, crept unawares within reach
of his hereditary foe. AS his great ancestor
was merciless, so were his capiors. He was
beaten with clubs and mauled with stones till
he lay limp and i;feless, but horrid still:
Brought thus near the building, he was lald
prone upon piece of timber, an object OF
moved by that caution which breads fallen
foe, or by strange though not uncommon
spite, one of the men chopped off the head
the fiat, evil skull, hard flmy eyes, the jaws
closed grimly upon the cruel fangs within
chopped it off and brushed it away. Later,
the engineer coming out thought to save the
taper chains of rattles, ghastly memento.
But these had just been severed from the life
less trunk, which still lay bruised and bleeding
where it had been thrown.
Among those looking on, boy stood near
in homespun dress, stoutboots enveloping his
pants. A gray-haired denizen Of the region,
drawing nigh, bade the youngster stamp on the
serpent's tail Nothing loath, the heavy boot
came down where the rattles used to grow
came down and, straitway. up it came, while 9
sickly pallor blanched beneath the tan and
wholesome dirt. No wonder! The Spirited,
sly snake" had been drinking sunshine, as he
lay outstretched, and, mangled as he was, had
gathered strength to resent the insult, as in
stinct prompted him. Quicker than liberated
spring his headless trunk struck the offending
boot with the same malicious violence, as when
the poison fangs were set erect to do its fatal
bidding! Happily, the head was quite severed
from the body, and lay in the dirt several feet
away.
It's not pleasant to tread on sprightly rat
tlesnake, even though one wear thick boots
and the reptile has neither head nor tail. So
these unscientfc investigators pursued their
experiment with piece of board, but twas
quite conclusive. Every time the smaller end
of the body was struck the other retaliated
with spiteful blow. Surely strange phe-
nomenon, from which many interesting theories
might be drawn aside from the obvious caution
-don't handle rattlesnakes till their heads are
taken off; but who shall say what occular law
of life's m ystery is shadowed il fact like this?
As often as that ghastly carcass coiled and
struck the offending boot, so often, and at the
self-same instant, the grim, repulsive head,
lying discovered in the DUST opened its jaws,
the deadly fangs protrudng, and closed them
with snap! Again and again this was done,
till the broken and divided-or was 1t the in
definitely extended ?-ghost of the reptile at
last departed.
Whoever wishes to satisfy himself of the
truth of this relation can easily do so. Always
the belief or unbelief of those who do not care
to investigate is matter Of no Importance
Springfield Republican.