The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29
a F10Hr WIN a BArTLBsNABE
Fsrraev cosurcve's Eaceuntev win = mtg
One o.. the shswanEuak Mountains.

Fsrr.er cosur~ve's Faceuuter win . Bir
One - ths shswanRuak Mountains.
NKwBUBoH, N. Y, Juno ga tall, black
haired. black-eyed. matronly looking woman
was fitting nervously about the depot Of the
New York. Lake Erie and Western Railroad at
about noon to-day. She wore black dress.
n striped red shawl. a neatly trimmed straw
hat, and pending from her ears we're two large
jet earrings She seemed to be terribly aRitated.
Az intervals Of about Ave minutes she would
press her hands TO her forehead "a though abe
was suffering from a severe headache. Now
and then she would Jump up and walk brlskly
to and fro across the floor without tutoring
word. Her actions attracted the attention OF
the telegraph operator who thought the woman
was insane. He watched her closely. md she
seeing this approached him and inquired what
time the next train left for Shawangunk. II
was about O'Clock. and when told that there
would be no train before $3.50 p NJ che ex-
claimed In piteous tones. 90 dear me he'll die
before l get homo. o. dear" This exclamation
led the operator TO Inquire into the cause OF tho
woman's agitation. and she said that she was
the wife OF a farmer named Cosgrove. who lived
on the back slope OF the Shawangunk Noun
tains. ana the mother Of i've children. the
youngest being 81 months old. Her husband
was an Industrious. hard working man. but
tney IOund ~ very nara 10 mako DOtn ends meet,
on account OF the low prices OF farm produce.
She had however. no fears Of their ability 10 get
along in the future II her husband was only
spared and continued 70 enjoy good health.
But OF this she was doubtful. ifthe contents OF
u letter she had received this morning were true.
Mrs. Cosgrovo had been In tho city four days.
visiting n schoolmate OF her younger days.
This morning she received letter bcseech ing
her to return home as quickly as possible as
ton, no having been bitten by rnitesnake
while ploughing corn. The thought Of her hus-
6nhds dying ana leaving her win hye young
her mind. She could hardly ' read i''' the
letter through. so, excited did she be-
and reached the depot che hardly knew.
Before the train arrived ehe related the con-
of the fight Mr.. Cosgroyo had with the rattle
snake. II was written by their Oldest child,
II seems that Mr.. Cosgroye had been at work
tho previous morning ploughing corn on
side hill. The corn was doing badly on
farmer, became SC anxious about his
crop that he had to nay particular at
tent 70 no,d He d had Iou SnS the
about that time that approaching tho southeast
corner Of the field, where lay a large, pile Of
stones. he upturned large, fat one. Beneath
II was a big rattlesnake. which on being thus
the iarmeI.' Then followed a. desperate en-
The snake. first struck Mr. CosRrove little
above the left hip. making serious wound.
piece OF rail fence. and his iackknife. Mr.. Cos
groves nrst Impulse was TO grab the STICK.
head. Then ne took up a large boulder and
with this kept the snake at bay Tor time. This
gave him an opportunity 70 thrust one hand
struck at him several times, but did not sue.
coed in biting him again; Mr.. Cosgrove used
his lackknife 10 good advantage. The snake
wound itself around Mr. Cosgroyes legs. but
left his arms free, and he soon finished the rep
tile by cutting OF his head;
pa Nsua Nuh ma old Enl 10 Nwha ha erff
10 the house" writes the daughter. and
thought he'd die" Old sally is white COW on
Mr. Cosgrove after getting TO his house. used
the antldotes that he had-alcohol. whiskey, nc.
and was somewhat relieved. When the
daughter closed the letter. be was considered
In n dangerous condition. The letter says that
the snake measured over eight feet in length.
Mrs. Cosgrove said that members OF her fam
fly have had several adventures with snakes.
About two years ago her husband killed group
Of thirteen rettlesnakee. the largest measuring.
her boys. then years old. came running into
the house with good sized black snake wound
little fellow did not know. While picking cur;
rants IN the back yard, the reptile coiled itself
apoS ann ann sd IN 10 s se ns cpr
said she grasped n large pair OF shears used to
clip sheep and cut the snakes head OF The
boy was not bitten. Al another time monster
black snake was discovered by Mrs Cosgrove
in her milk cellar. She made no cutlery. but
ran for the clothes FOUNDER. The snake ran
tho box out from the wall and with the FOUNDER
mashed the snakes head into Jelly.
But II you want TO soc snakes" Mrs. Cos
grove continued. just go up on the Shongum
huckleberryinR somewhere near what we call
Point Rock, and sometimes Snakes Cave My
husband has often encountered EN- there. and
although am not very afraid OF EN-. from what
he has told me I'D rather stay away from that
spot. A den OF rattles was once found In n big
crack In a rock at this place by my husband and
two neighbors who were out shooting. Under
the rock WIS n sort OF n cave. the rock kind o.
projecting over just above the ground. In here
the men built big brush fire. and in half an
hour they say they never afore seen such q
sight. / can't describe II, but II one snake some
out OF that crack fifty did They can't stand
ilre and tho heat and fumes which went up
through that crack would have roasted 'em II
they hadn't moved They Missed and ratified
and jumped and made the men jump. too. for
safety"
II is a well-known fact that huckleberry pick
ers frequently have to battle with snakes on
parts Of the Shawangunk Mountains. IL is "A
dangerous region for amateurs TO visit unless
they are we'll prepared to make n good fight
No doubt many ebcounters hre had there with
snakes and wild animals that are never chron-
icled. Judging from the utterances Of those who
live in that neighbOrhOod.