The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-07-22

the hands of two private detectives who
went to New Orleans and, acting in con
| junction with detectives there, arrested
the bandit. They took him on the steam
er which left for this country on the fol
lowing day When the steamer arrived
in New York, Esposito was taken
to Ludlow Street Jail and later was ar
tlesnake that is very large and venomous,
TO obtain some ''rattlesnake OIL for u
sick child. The oil obtained from these
snakes by frying out the fat, is said to
possess wonderful medicinal virtues He
was accompanied by sagacious dog
that was considered good snake hunter
He had not been in the valley very long
before the dog came on a whole nest of
rsttlesnakes just on the edge of u big
wheat field. 1t appeared that the snakes
made their abiding place in pile of
stones near by, and when discovered, in
stead of showing fight, as they usually
do fled to the stone heap, where they
kept up horrible rattling and appeared
to be unusually vicious.
Mr.. Wood, armed with stout stick
pried up the stones and scattered them
around. TO his surprise he counted sew
en- snakes, one of which had attired
enormous proportions and was bcauti-
fully bronzed and ieckcd with gold
This snake he endcavored to capture, as
he supposed it would contain a large
amount of OIL on account of its stout ap-
pearance. The dog was afraid to at
tack the reptiles and as Mr.. Wood was
preparing forked stick, for the pur-
pose of pinning the veteran to the ground
and drawing his fangs, from instinct or
some other cause the big rattler seemed
| to divine what his assaiant contempa-
ted and darting off suddenly tried to es-
cape to the mountain. The dog was put
on his trail and followed him up the
south side of Bald Eagle mountain. giving
tongue like fox hound. Mr.. Wood fol-
lowed but was unable to keep up.
Night came on and the snake had not
| been captured. AS it was such large
one he disliked to give it up and camp.
ing on the summit of the mountain he
remained there all night. Early next
morning the dog was put on the trail and
the pursuit was begun again. The snake
was soon discovered, hut it crawled faster
than its pursuer could run and seemed to
be making for the river. Down the
north side of Bald Eagle it moved with
vine made for the river. The dog in the
meantime following the trail ely,kepl
Mr.. Wood advised where it was. "Oi
all the snakes that | ever heard of,
said Mr.. Wood, ''this was the most re
markable and determined to capture it.
AS it neared some open ground at the
foot of the mountain he thought he could
overtake and dispatch it, but he was
mistaken. Occasionally he caught 6
glimpse of it as it moved ahead rapidly
but could not come up with it. Or
reaching the bank of the river it slC
down quickly and taking the water com
menced swimming for the other shore
This was more than he had bargaincC
for Some time was lost before he coulc
get boat to take himself and dog owe
the river, and the SHAKE had got goo,
start. The trail was found again nea
the oil works, and it was evident tha
this sagacious rattler was making fo
the hills. The pursuit was continued
and late in the afternoon he and his do!
cameup with the reptile in the Boomin!
Grove settlement, about three miles mort
of Wiliamsport. Ii was evident that it
strength was failing,and as it was in tn
act of crawling through the fence h
struck it with his club and broke il
back. The work of dispatching it di,
not occupy a minute, and this peculia
{ snake at last lay dead at the feet of it
pursuers-the man and dog 1t meas
ured seven feet in length, and its tail wa
adorned with seventeen rattles and
button. But the most remarkable pal
, of the flight was that it had worn it
, belly through and all the fatty matte
F. used in making the oil was lost
II have killed many snakes" said Nj
. Wood, shut this one beats them all
Y verify believe that it was attracted b
= the comet, as it travelled right after it a
the time" All the oldest inhabilanl
and snake fanciers say that they nevt
heard of such remarkable chase after
g snake before. Luckily Mr.. Wood wa
l thoughtful enough to remove the skin
r which he takes great pleasure in exhibi
Q ing to those who are curious to gaze O
+ such trophies. He will have it stuile
e and mounted and a full description ,
e the distance it travelled about nine mil,
D written and attached to it.