Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-07-23
Wakened by a Big Snake.
THE BLooD-CuRpLING EXPERIENCE OF A
MINING PRoSPECToR.

MINING PRoSPECToR.
Some half dozen mining experts who have
been prospecting for silver and gold in the
Cherokee region of Georgia and Alabama
have Just returned to this city loaded down
with rich specimens of ores and snake
stories The ores vouch for themselves
the stories do not, but they are calculated to
equal any that have recently been in print.
Following is fair sample, told as the teller
tells it:
We knew that We were 10 snake country,
and we had heard from the farmers and
"niggers" SO much about the "critters'
that We hadn't time to look out for or think
Of anything else. While tramping over the
mountains and through the woods every
time twig broke or displaced stone
rustled the dry leaves there was a cry Of
snake, followed by stampede. Awake, We
imagined everything unusual a writhing.
curling. slippery reptile; asleep, our dreams
were haunted by the loathsome creatures.
There nine in the party, three being
laborers whom we took along TO do our
heavy work. They slept in a small tent
near our own. One Of them. Colonel"
others didn't mind them much.
One night We dropped to sleep early after
a hard days work. The melancholy wall
of the whip-poor- the awe-inspiring hair
raising boot Of the owl, the rasping rattle
Of the katydid, the gleeful frog chorous from
u neIgkborlng swamp. all echoed and re-
echoed among the hills unhearl by US. We
slept as only tired men can sleep. had
been selfish enough to spread my blanket at
the door Of the tent where indeed. was al
most in the open air, the rays of the half
grown moon falling softly on my face
through the thick leaves overhead. \ light
blanket was my only covering.
Il mus, have been bedtime for all nature
when awakened. There were five
mouotouons. distinct snores keeping time
and out Of time behind me IN the tent, but
there wasn't a sound outside. not a note
from owl or frog. lay on my back gazing
At tile moon and the clouds scualing across
her disk wondering What could have
walked me- | felt desire to stretch and in
moving my lett foot became conscious OF
a heavy weight resting upon 1t. The move
meut disturbed the object and | felt il slip
over to the left SIDE. ihe next instant my
blood almost froze IN my veins, my heart
began to thump like a trjp-hammer and
PRECIPITATION trickled from my forehead.
could feel a sqUrmng thing upon the
blanket beside my foot, heard smooth,
gliding, rubbing sound and knew that
arec snake lay coiied up there.
Half Wild with fear for moment the
next was perfectly cool and counting the
chance. before me. Tn, situation vas a
desperate one. Nv fr,t impulse was 10
ILL., III suddenly. throw The blsnke, over On
n, s,fnep, and held i, thers.a awake the sleep.
rr. have A h.ht struck and then fight /, out.
nu, Their. vA> tco much rtsk. The chances
we're against me IN the dark and II would
T.. we'll nigh ltunossiblr to secure the snake.
Should | t,i, In Wa. sttanp, II would NJ a
mirar,. for tny friend, u ,.raa. Y, ftn...
might have hit upon 81 me-, p'ta had the
rar,iIs remat,e1 ouir, I'm, +, Itjp't dn that
II b.gan .towi, Ia uncall u. Ion, ho,Iy Ana
,h,,e cam. over m, mn incxprrssihIe feeling
of rei,.f for | thought i, was going away.
Ir,,,in,. nv horror rh.p vh,.n instead \,
stretched II, 3.al toward mine aul brrsn
,.i,, ,,n my left side l. land mead
l.r anl | slill frlt the weight
I, rravled higher
"f .3,l On my
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