River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-23
STARTLING TALES.
a Very Good Bear and Equally as
Good Snake Story.

How Hunter was saved From an Awful
Dea;h-Caugh Ia Hollow Log
Between Two Bears-A
Narrow Escape.
A few days ago ! sat III the cabin Of
known or am tha Pike County hunters.
The pine floor ST the cabin was covered
with the skins ~ many wild animals
and the autIcrs or deer were suspended
in almost every corner of the room.
On the shelf were the rattlcs Of fully
one hundred snakes. many Of the skins
of which We're Ia u-c as straps. rude
cIothe--iiues anG the like. The bleachcd
skeleton ~ bear stood guard at a
gate outside, propped up by slender
little fcucc around it, while the un-
dressed bodies Of q dozen hawks were
nailed 70 adjacent outbuildings. The
hunter was oiIiug his gun and
naturally fell into "a reminiscent mood,
during which he told score OF star
Ting tales One of these, "A story Of a
mOuStrou- snake. whose skin shOne
respIcudeutly in the sunlight. here
tr,nscribe almost IL John related it 10
me.
'.The snake what wore that skin, "
hc said .--avcj my wuthless life" |
rose and looked closer IL the hand
some but repuIsive object 1t was
fulIg seven feet long. Its -hrunk
conSid bic now. ne went on The
-uake what wore that skin lacked one
inch Of bciu' eight feet long. No SLOUGH
of "a snake. You bet
well. IL was "a year ago las spring
up on the little creel5-ju-' about the
time when the mir and yearth com
meurit Ii Fit warm anu snakes come
out " sun themselves"
Here the hunters wife came quietly
into the room and took seat upon "A
couch iu tho corner. She was a deeply
religious woman. and I suppose she
had ara idea that her presence in some
occult way gave an additional credi-
bility To- the story of her husbands
preservation from an awful death
through the iu-trumeu:aIity OF "a snake.
II wuz out gunniu one day" said
tho hunter. slowly. ..and when / got 10
the ledge hangiu' over the little creek
kin -howyou the very place fore you
20 way / set down onto the rock. my
legs haugin' over That's q fright
som pre-piS, that i. / measured it
with "a string / bought over at Hawley
ou purpus an she measured the string
where them feet Is marked ou the floor
thar am 10 was uiuctv-four feet an
some inches -av, niucty-threc feet,
Rllowin' for the -tretchin' 90 the string.
Well, ~ I say was Sittin' thar with
my feet haugin' down waitin' fur any
thing that might come along and think
in about pluutin' corn over in that lot
side OF the shed. when all Of "a suddcnt
] heard rustIin' right benin me. I
turned rom' mighty quick. YOU kin
bet an There was that darn snake
Well. ! draw q the ramrod from ny
gun and struck al ii bit it oncet. but
il came right at me. Thought then it
was ;eu or twelve feet long. std Of
only ~crca. ID looked - frightsome an
al.U- did hate "a snake awful Well.
Sc -,... hadn't had no time To git up.
ard So there sat with my legs hang
10 over that ledge aud nothiu' tween
them and On" rocks down below but
ncty-thrre feet Of air. An that durn
Criitcr was onto me- fore knew it.
Well. I was q little bit scared; tried TO
cit UP. Pa. uly foot slipped like. an 80
still -ittin' there kept strikin' az that
shake. Fore long / seen Il good chance
and grabbed mister snake by the tail
10 throw him down the ledge Then.
/ tell Sc. ! thought my last day had
come The sudden throw with my left
Lau. ana my feet no. bein' braced
'gaiuSt uothin' the " eight of the snake
pulled me oTu tie ledge quicker'n
li-h,uiu
Mercy, Did you fall down that
ninety thrcc-fout prccipice2' I asked.
y.itG some excitement
NO. That's the Gurus part 81 the
whul. proceedings / mos forgot to
Tell ye. There WIZ tree biz a. my leg
CROWN right straight outcu the rock
love. ike aside uf me- Ye see the
snake curlcd right roau that tree like
awl'q-i..-h- and when I slipped often
the lodge ! hung oa IA the snakes tail
Nov. Iteli yc thJt did ~trctch some.
ally Took mis- pre.th away. aud |
brahc ont al over ID cold sweat. and
ju~ 'Ir miunt [ thought / mus
rlsigvIy Ir-Eo. Then Thought sud
Gin. IKE. eos I know There was sharp.
hra7ru rocks IoNu Fellow. aU' it wuz "a
iuu- vls to ew.. an L did legEo l
vouu hc sure killed. Then ! SCI:
-p,e mau. Won mus hang on somehow
hr.ra li,tls cot mv wind and begun
IL feel II Ii'.I. uar,, stren'th. but all
III. la.. THAT .aig seemed To- ~. stretch
FIJI aa th.. -aa..r -lidfu slow roam the
TIM. .-u somehow I couldn't sit my lef
han vnto tac tr,e. in didn't dare
pun myself Un 81 sees. by the snakes
TAI iar Tea. . MIGHT break. Well.
tore lone 80. q -liverof bark of the
,ower -jGe u- the tree. AN then the
WAY t=utalizcj that snake was a eau
ton The critter bit my lief han
fW5tf- To makes me laugh now