The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-09-11

We had dug our shaft at the base of
. ten-foot hill ct NcAllister's store,
and had driven tunnel right through
Into the hill, following . ledge that
yielded some rich washing. The drive
was very marrow, being only large
enough to give admission to one man.
I dssoended the shaft one morning and
entered the tunnel.
Just as I was about to drive in my
pick . m0nstrous snake rose mp in
front of me; he had descended the
shaft during the night, and worked
his way into the end Of the drive.
by the light Of my candle I saw it was.
. black snake, one of the most vene-
nous Of Australian reptiles.
i saw that be was about to strike.
and 20 I drew back, but in the act
struck my head against the roof Of the
drive, hitting myself such . severe
blow that for . moment I lost my
senses, and falling over turned my
light and left myself in total dark
nesa Something seemed to whiz
over me as half stupidity 1 tried to
raise myself to sitting posture. 1
almost shrieked with terror, but the
instinct of self-preservation kept me
silent.
1 lay for some time listening, and
feeling certain that / had not been
bitten, became posed Of an irresist.
ible longing to get ont Of the hole. 1!
crsWIed to the mouth of the drift and
there, ct the bottom of the shaft, 1
saw his snakeship squirming and
twisting himself about. He had
struck for nae. bat ON my falling back
bad missed me and went over me !:
thea probably being somewhat fright
eoed himself, he had sought the mouth
Of The drift TO mako his escape. But
he ennld net climb the shaft althouRb
he was making every effort to do 30.
I Ct once ssW that I could not get
out Of the hole without bringing ON .
conflict between the snake and my.
self. shouted mp to Bill to be ready
to hoist when gave him the signal,
explaining - well - could the dan.
erous perdicsment I was in below.
To my shouting received no reply,
and concluded Bill had left the mouth
of the shaft, probably with the men in
the adjoining claim, or to indulge in
. friendly pipe with them, not sup
posing I would require his assistance
20 quickly. sszs-9 ..-..l.s
saw that the only course open to
me WAS to disable the snake il possi-
BILE, and then to make my escape from
the shaft in the best way that could.
Having made this resolve l emerged
from the drift, pick in hand, and made
strike for tho snake before he had
time to spring. &
That was . fortunate stroke, The
pick entered his back and broke his
spine. he was powerless to reach
me. / seized the rope and In q few
minutes got out of the hole.
Ny first impulse was to throw my.
self ON my knees, and Offer . prayer
Of thanks for my marvellous escape.
Then called Bill. He descended the
shaft and succeeded in passing q
switch beneath the belly Of the snake
ct the point whore the spine was
broken. Then he tied the two ends
Of the switch together, and we hoisted
the reptile to the surface. He meas
ured nine feet four inches.
He had given rs such . terrible
scare that / resolved to be revenged
upon him, and was for cutting of his
head ct once, but party of miners
who had gathered around rs begged
tnat he might be laid across an ant
hill. told them that they might dis
pose Of him as they pleased. They
carried him to an adjoining ant-hill
and laid him across it; his spine be.
ing broken, he, of course, could not
escape.
Then ensued fight. The ants At
tackled him in force and he slaughter-
Cd them by Thousands, but they hurled
legion upon legion upon him, and in
less than two hours all that remained
of the snake was beautifully polish-
cd skeleton, wh'ch lay across the ant
hill, cleaning in the sunshine.