The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-08-06
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

Tombstone ARIZONA Epitaph.

Tombstone <Arizona} Eptapl.}
DR.. Bartleson, OF this city, had quite
! thrilling experience last week. While a
] Socorro, on business. he thought he woul
e take a look at the mines near town. Th
object Of interest is the old mine--we hav
forgotten the name--worked ages ago fo
aught any one now living knows, ant
which has two shafts, one recently reopen
ed TO a depth of fortv-five feet, where drift
: Indicate first level. Ne explorations be
yond few feet from tho depth namet
; have been made, though ii is evident tina
the two shafts mentioned are CORRECTED a
this level
DESTROYS of iaunt under ground, and a
the same time expressing surprise thai
none OF the miners OF the camp or owners
of the mine had worked up sufficient curl,
osity to extend the discovery, the doctor
was lowered into the shaft. Emerging
from the bucket a taper was lighted, and
the drift along the vein entered upon. A
chamber ten by twelve by eight was soon
entered By crawling distance on all tours,
after an examination OF which. anda selec-
ton of some ores the tour Of discovery was
continued. To proceed it WAS again nee
essary TO crawl, and the doctor once more
assumed the nfantile position of locomo-
ton. An advance Of a few feet had been
made, when cold, cammy substance was
touched by the hand, and two bright, glis-
tening orbs gradually rose in air and flash
cd back with intensified brightness the
feeble rays Of the taper.
Almost instantly q Kissing, rsttling
sound startled the hearing, and the doctor
realized that he had encountered a rattle
snake 70 retreat was the work Of a sec
ond, and the chamber just left was soon re-
gained. Assuming an upright position,
the doctor cast hasty glance at the aper-
ature from whence he had emerged. and
I 10 and behold, there approached his adver-
sary, which, when seeing the disturber of
his peace, coied himself for spring. A
| look was sufficient to satisfy the doctor
! that the snake was one OF the largest of his
species, and determined foe. Immediate
t action was necessary. 10 retreat was to
| invite and hasten the attack, with the
chances in favor Of the snake. Te take the
aggressive, them was the work Of another
! second, and, picking up a chunk Of ore,
! the doctor hurled it with all his might at
the protruded, vibrating head of tile snake
Just as he was in the act springing.
! The exertion of throwing the ore e&tin-
| guishcd the taper. And the horror Of the
then aituaticn can we'll be imagined, but
never accurately described-the darkness,
F! the dread uncertainty Of the locality of the
( reptiles the torturing ignorance of the sue
cess or faiiue of the blow; the fear to move
all combined to intensity the hair raising,
chilling terror Of the sit,latlotls 70 rclght
the taper was determined upon, though
! not without the realization Of the dread
| fact that the snake would take advantage
Of the first ray Of light and spring upon its
| foe. With fear and trembling the doctor
eagerly followed the advancing rays OF the
taper as they lit up the chamber, and his
feelings of relief and JOY can we'll be imag-
ined as he saw stretched before him. not
three feet distant, the stunned body OF the
snake-thc aim with the rock had been 4
success. At this time the doctor bethought
himself of his revolver, and placing it near
the reptiles head, etficctually dispatched
/ him. The snake was six feet in length,
very large around and numbered nineteen
rattlcs, The doctor had explored sufficient
ly and regained the surface as soon as pos
sble. We imagine bis hair is d shade
:. :sra1.t.1: tLan hatnr.. ecnino to Sncnrro.