The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-06-16
A RATTLEsNAKE's SPRING.
SIine to Bed with Rather In n Mountnin-
eer's Cnbin--A Night of Terror--Fishing
for Snakes with Poles aud Stuning Them
Tor Museums.

ing, ''but did you ever in your life see
anything more beautiful than thatP'
and he pointed to the billowy range of
Blue Ridge Mountains, whose tops were
losing themselves in the soft, misty hue
of twilight 'T tell you," he continued,
"there are no more beautiful mountains
in this country than these Virginia peaks.
There is only one thing have against
them: they are just jam full of snakes"
$50 1 have heard, but it has never
been my fortune to meet with any face
to face"
"You can thank your lucky stars them"
said the man, who was drummer for a
Baltimore firm. II met one face to face
in the most unpleasant manner few
nights ago. l had occasion to take
quite trip on horseback-you know
everybody rides horseback in these parts
and, after trotting along for two or
three hours, struck up into the noun
tain. The sun was slowly sinking, cast
ing its beautiful lights and shades, with
all their delicate witchery, over the sur
rounding landscape. 1t was beautiful,
and I gaged, enchanted, upon q scene
which 1 cannot describe. Arousing my
self from my reverie, was warned by
the deepening shadows to hasten on. I
had chosen a path which was little more
than bride path, and at each step the
way was becoming more rough and
rugged. Over broken rocks and fallen
trees pursued my way with great diff
Guilty. AS the shadows deepened and
objects became less discernable, my
horse began to manifest unmistakable
signs of fear and uneasiness, shying at
times so violently as to almost throw me
from the saddle. At last, to my great
satisfaction, distinguished the sounds
of human voices. Pushing on in the
direction from which they proceeded, 1
came upon a group of men standing in
front of a rude log cabin. They were
rough mountaineers, and made living
by distilling whisky. Riding up, 1 in
quired the distance to my place of des-
tination. 1t was several miles further
on. / was not acquainted with the way.
1t would have been dangerous for me to
have kept on, and L asked if l could be
: accommodated for the night. Get down,
stranger get down. was the ready re-
sponse. we haven't much in this wild
country, but what we have is at youl
service was pretty stiff after my long
ride and gladly dismounted. As /
jumped from my horse I saw upon the
ground at their feet what, upon examin-
alton, proved to be large snake. II
) was a 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 dis
patched but few moments before my
, 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
loafng about the place too familiarly
you know, for he might snap up some
one of us when we are not thinking o.
! it, so we settle him at once
! "'How do you do it 2" asked.
"'Well, when he is fine old rattlel
- we try to secure him without breaking
: his hide. We draw his attention by
; putting something on the end of pole
on which is also snare, and when tn,
old fellow pops up his head from be
3 3 hind the log we just drop the snare owe
u Il him and one of us runs up, catches hin
i by the neck and puts a spike through
: his head. That is, when we catch then
/ to stuff for your museums. o, ther
! are lots of them about here, lots of them
We have several fine old fellows ol
: hand now"
81 listened in silence. Not a very in
viting prospect for a nights lodging,
thought as I stood debating in my min,
the advisability of moving on in spit
, of darkness and rough roads. A sum
! mons from the cabin to supper decide,
me, however. The cool mountain al
: had proved a keen appetizer and
& thoroughly enjoyed the PLAIN but sub
stantial meal of corn-bread and bacon
, Supper over, We repaired again to tn
> front of the cabin. A feeling Of exhila
: ration came over me-a feeling which
man can only experience by going int
-, the very heart of the mountain. Th
! moon had risen and around and abov
:. me the trees nodded in food of silve
: light. Picturesque and beautiful be
yond description was the scene, Danish
ing from my mind all disagreeable an
. unpleasant thoughts. Each rock, era
. and bush seemed under the mystica
light to become transformed into some
O thing lovely and fairy-like.
), "But even the loveliness of the nigh
~ could not dispel the WEAKNESS whicl
. was gradually stealing over me no
tempt me longer to remain, so accom-
q panied by my host L was shown m
= quarters. 1t was a little low room
n seeming to be off from the main build
. ing. Through the chinks in the log
came the moonlight in little patches
q The window, small port hole concern
h was built right up against the mountai
q and beneath it huge clumps of roc
= and underbush. AS stood in the dis
NAL, comfortless room 1 confess to
G feeling of great nervousness. l did nc
h like the looks of things at all. Back t
n my mind flashed the stories of the eve
:. ming. L was conscious for the frs
time in my life of being actually afraid
4 I set about my preparations for til
f night with as good stock of courag
, as / could summon to my aid, making
y careful survey of the room and film
up the chinks as best l could. Hardl
!. had finished ere my candle fickereC
y sputtered spitefully and went out.
4 sought my straw bed, placed my revol
Il yer under my coat and settled myself t
try and sleep. But sleep l coul
O not.
!. "After passing whPt seemed hours c
. wakefulness, extreme weariness and til
I low wind soughing through the pine
= threw me at last into restless uneas
= slumber, in which my dreams were file
h with flightful visions. From one NOR