Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-07-14
A RATTLESNAKES' SPRING.

Narrow Escape in the Blue Ridge Going t.
Bed with a Rather in Mountaiueer',
Cabin.
"You may talk about your Catskill, " sale
man on the hotel piazza last night, "but
did You ever in your in your life see any
thing more beautiful than that?" and he
pointed to the billowy ranges of the Blue
Ridge mountains, whose tops were losing
themselves in the soft misty hue of twi-
light. Il tell you" he continued, ''there
are no more beautiful mountains in this
country than these Virginia peaks There
is only one thing got against them they
are just jam full of snakes"
$50 have heard, put it has never been
my fortune to meet with any face to face"
You can thank your lucky stars, then, -
said the man who was a drummer for o
Baltimore firm. II first met one face to
face in the most unpleasant manner few
nights age. I had occasion to take quite a
trip OH horseback -you know everybody
rides on horseback in these parts-and
after trotting along fer two or thee hours,
struck up into the mountain. The sun
was slowly sinking, casting its beautiful
lights and shades, with all their delicate
witchery, over the surrounding landscape.
1t was beautiful, and gazed, enchanted,
upon a scene which l cannot describe.
Arousin. myself from my reverie, t was
warned by the deepening shadows to hasten
on. / had chosen path which was little
more than bride path; and each step the
way becoming more rough and rugged.
Over broken rocks and fallen trees I pur-
sued my way with great difficulty. As the
shadows deepened and objects became less
discernible my horse began to manifest
unmistakable signs of fear and uneasiness
shying at times 80 violently as to almost
throw me from the saddle.
"At last, to my great satisfaction, I dis
tinguished the sounds of human voices.
Pushing on in the direction from which
they proceeded, came upon group of
men standing in front of a rude log cabin.
they were rough mountaineers, aud made a
living by distilling whiskey. Riding up
enquired the distance to my place of des.
tination. 1t was several miles further on
was not acquainted with the way. It
would have been dangerous for me to have
kept on, and asked If could be accom-
modated for the night. Get down, strang-
er: get down, was the ready response. we
haven't much in the wild country, but what
we have is at your service"
I was pretty stiff after my long ride, and
gladly dismounted. As jumped from nv
horse saw upon the ground at their feet
what, upon examination, proved to be q
large snake. It was moccasin, six Feet
long, and an ugly looking customer. MY
exclamation of alarm drew from one of the
men the remark that the snake had been
dispatched but few moments before nv
arrival. We had pretty hard job Of it,
he said, but we fixed him at last. We
don't care much for them, but the fact is,
when we do spot big snake close by, we
don't choose to have him loafing about the
place too Familiarity, you know, for he
might snap up some one of us when we
were not thinking of it, so we settle him at
once" How do you do it?' I asked.
Well, when he is fine old rattler we
try to secure him without breaking his hide.
We draw his attention by putting some-
thing on the end Of a pole on which is also
snare, and when the old fellow pops up
his head from behind the log we Just drop
the snare over him, aud one of us runs up.
and catches him by the neck and puts
spike through his head. That is, when we
catch them to stuff for your museums.
Oh, there are lots of them about here, lots
OF them. We have several fine old fellows
On hand now"
II listened in silence. Not a very in
viting prospect for nights lodging,
thought, as stood debating in my mind
the advisability of moving on in spite Of
the darkness and rough roads. A sum-
mons from the cabin to supper decided me,
however. The cool mountain air had
proved q keen appetizer, and I thoroughly
enjoyed the plain but substantial meal Of
corn bread and bacon. Supper over, we
- A n . a q p.