Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-23
BLACK SNAKES.
THEY usHIEaE TIE MIND or AN AID.
vEHrURoUs HUNTER
Terrible Experience Of an Ohio Eimrod In
the santa Cruz hountairs-ln
Nest Of Reptiles.

A San Jose Zeal } letter to the Globe
Democrat saws: Charles II. DAVIS q
Cincinnati, o., merchant, WHO'S soJonrn-
ing on the pneific coast. had n terrible
experience in the Santa Cruz mountains
last week with black bear and snakes.
Mr. Davis, whose family is stopping
with friends in San Jose, set out IN com
pepy with n party OF gentlemen for a
weeks camping among the "big trees ="
along Boulder creek. The party was
under the guidance OF Old Jake Hardy,
n trapper and hunter, who has tramped
over tho Santa Cruz range for the past
thirty-fv years, and is familiar with
every inch OF the ground.
The party csmped in Redwood Gulch,
a deep ravine about three miles in length
and filed with tall redwoods and boul-
ders. 1t is wild place, and is favorlte
retreat for bears, mountain lions, and
wildcats. This spot was chosen as 1t Of
fered splendid opportunities for the
members of the party to get taste OF
real adventure. One member of the
party at least bad his appetite for adven-
ture satisfied in manner that he little
anticipated when the campfire was built
in Redwood Gulch.
A TEMPTING SPRING.
The second morning after the party
had camped Mr.. Davis, who is crack
shot. arose before the other members OF
the party were up, and, nile IN hand,
sauntered off up the gulch thinking he
might get q shot at cougar or perhaps
some larger game. About mile and a
half I'D the gulch from the camp spring
OF clear water bubbles up from the foot
of a ponderous rock, the perpendicular
face of which rises to height Of fifty
feet. The narrow path through the bot
tom of the ravine leads to the spring and
runs along the base OF the boulder to
the end, when it turns abruptly around
the corner and takes a Zig-zag course
among the trees and rocks to a beautiful
fall of water that tumbles over ledge
at the head OF the gulch.
Mr.. Davis, with his eyes alert for any
living thing that might offer itself as
target for his aim, sauntered leisurely
along the path enjoying the fresh noun
tain air, and when he reached the spring
he leaned his rifle against the boulder, and
tossing his hat down on the ground
stretched himself out and settled him
self for deep and cooling drink Of
the delicious water. He may have
hung over the water longer than neces-
sary, studying the lineaments in the face
that looked up at him from out the
depths of the spriEg. However true this
may be, he was not n little staggered
when he arose and turned around to
reach his rifle to find himself face to face
with a powerful black bear whose body
filled the narrow path. The bear had pick
ed up Davis's rifle and was cutting it
around in the dirt in a careless manner,
when his attention wassttracted to Davis
by his sudden uprising from the spring.
He reared himself on his hind legs and
tapping bis red jaws with his tongue,
held out his black arms invitingly to-
ward Davis, who responded to the I'M
pleasant invitation by drawing n small
pocket pistol that he carried, and taking
as deliberate aim as possible under the
circumstances, firing shot into the
bears mouth.