The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-17
MUSICAL RfTTLESv1KES.
Something that Could Happen Only In the
Wtids of Pennsylvania.

READING, Feb. 9.-Old Jim Rodgers. as
his few familiar friends of this town call MIN
turned up here ON Feb. TO draw his annual
5000 which is the interest cf all that is left OF u
large fortune. In early life Jim sluandcrcd
his puirimOny. and ~ ruined his health aud
constitution that now. ut the age Of 40. he looks
50. and is hut wreck of his former self. Not
wthstanding his ben, and dccrcpit appearance,
Jim II still uuite u,tiv"; he does nothing hh
trump through tn" country. his principal wan
behring's hcing through the wilds Of the 40
gheny and Blue mountains in this state. Mti,t
" his money goes for ammunition for his old
shotgun. without which he is never seen. lie
lives mainly on rabbits aud hirds. as ~ IL
oitcutimcs alone Tor weeks on the mountains.
when Jim makes his annual appearance kcrc.
he remains about n week. and during tha.time
frcgucuts certain corner grocery. which ~ the
lonilng place OF n number " old singers. who
spin some wonderful yarns. Jim can Quito
them all. One night he told MS about n large nest
Of rattlcsnakcs which on fine days gave regular
concerts: the music. Jim said. was bctV r than
that Of any singing society in the country.
These concerts were led 10y an old snake that
had lost his rattlcs but was yet the bOss Of the
crowd.
We laughed NJ him. This made him angry
" II YOU don't believe me" he sarl. "I can
SNOW II w YOU. II any NlNU nff' 1tS rlUnk
enough to stand little hard travelling. anil can
sleep on, ON the rocks for tow nights with
nothing hut blanket. let him ~, tir, word aud
I'll contract 10 show him q sight that he never
saw before
said would 20 with him To- ~" such a great
curiosity. and lin told me To he raady the next
morning to start.
On the second day We rcachsl the Welsh
mountains. Just over the line ot lNrks and Lam
cnster. After clamborng and crisyling up hills
| aud down deep ravincs. and Wlding through
mountain streams for whole day. with moth
ing TO eat but some hard tack md n rabbit Jim
shot We were compelled to camp On the lee side
I VI large rock. Next moruiuL We started on.
! nnd. after u lew hours walk. r'nrhed u cave
was Of smooth. solid moss. Here ana th-rs %
! few huge bouders were ~ratc1"d. Al the fur
! Their end. IN tho mounitin side. WIS n largo
opening which JIM sud Mts m" month 90 "a
cave. We ciriwlti To- the top uf one Of the large
rocks; about fitv feet from tn9 mouth oi thc
cave; ny d own. and remained thor" the rest oi
I The daN. ~e"iug aud hearing nothing.
] was iir,d and hungry md VNca. and Pc
proached Jam i"; having taken me- into that
| Wild country fer Tho purpo-e Of hoaNing ne.
| every day II it, :. nice day tn-m morrow Vou'll
So" ia" uurrrrSt light YOU ever laid ry"s ON.
Next day we too up the same position on the
rock. aud. after wafine until noon. our patience
! Al the mouth az the cave appeared large
! snake. having n" appearance Of raft lcsnake.
! nut without fNttsf. Following tnlS lf'tltT taTllf
/ p'rhaps IA hundred ratthsnakes OF different
sizes. from three 10 ten feet in length The bob
! boss snake Gang on until he was al"at In the
centre OF the Jrcna. and the rest grouped IN
CIRCLES AROUND MN. the smaller snak"s inside.
All seemed to Oe intcntly Watching him:
| began to II nervous. but Jim said he had
been in the ~ mo place alone many tine.
the rest iollc'vcI his example. Then he began
| sprinEing NJ, and down. ut one moment i'u ON
The ground. and. the next, seemingly standing
an hN al - : lis TAIL and Al is
| signal for tie other snakes. First on" began
| kissing. tb'n another. AMI another. uniil At
! last was grand chorus of Misses. Then thn
! hg fellow sIdd"hlv stopped ana waved his tail
Ia aud irO. All The snakes began rafting iurl-
The altrrnate Kissing and rafting went On f,r
some TIME. then the head shake begun go VITA
gle ana s,g'irm about Unit ne Wa AL knols and
tangl.s. wii-rsuron he other snake Missed and
ratified tu<c 'ther. making most nidt"u, noi~"
! II was N.N- irving 10 tn" nerves at urst. This
| concert Ne 4 been kept w about M hour. when
IN II lull ~ the music Thought heard Kisses
| behind ne rock on which We wcr" Wing
| Turning around and looking down. | saw tnrre
| huge b1 h snakes. erect and his-ing vigorous
| " AT tho music. In = minute they dropped and
glided buck 10 n" entrance 81 the rayine. soon
| they rcgpp-ared. and bVhind them a crowd 81
other itacs snakes. nearly equal IN number to
nav Tor a scene that didn't know was on
We ,Nt',he.i them conn" on kissing with al
they suddenly asiat.si. Then a hug" FELLOW
dual IN i"nsth to the rauI-nak@ leader. hu'
nln'n tn'ktf. advanced ul'iftr liniit lie WIS per
cciveo by the rattiesnak,s. Tue concert Wue
stopped, AMI thu director gave AN angry hiss q,
tho iidrudrr. This the back snake answered
Immediately all the rnttesnakrs fell back tr
wnrv their 'styc. Then a snake duel
The blnck shake aiiNunced cautiously. and ti'
TWO. after much wriggling about. dart"d "a
ci.ch other. The contest lasted twenty uiuut' :
the ratt"snake striking mis- fang, repeatedly
INFO the buck snake. The latter after twl-tina
and vrizsling around Tor some timc. ~ ias
succeeded IN getting him completely clasp"d u
his folds, and slowly crushed him o. dnaih
Then h. began to whirl around cunvulsly- ly
aud In a Few minutes WINS stretched ont dcat
beside h n dead antagonist.
/ Uuring the entire fight the snakes on both
| sLles kept up "a continual Kissing. ono party :,
| which added their diaboli'al rafting. Tn,
I death of the black snake WIS III" siu nal Tor
! general cngaa ment winch lastsl an n"ur. \
| the enJ vi that time not a black suake Wa let
| to tell the story. About dozen rrt.iosnakps r.
| manned alive. They gided to the body Of th-u
Int lesder and after giving "a few le'-ile rattle
| of triumph, they dragged II with them into tnri
! cave. and disappeared
IT'S u blamed good way Of eNtcrmnaiinl
| snAks-. anyhow. said jim. but IA sorry tina
| Wy musical chaps are gone was guln. 10 So
| Barnum about EN- and make my fortune