The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-29

The camp was two miles away and
Davis knew that it would be Impossible
for him to make his voice heard that
distance. but he did not doubt that his
com panions would sooner or later won
der at his absence and institute a search
for him, consequently the ultimate re-
suit of his encounter with the bear
must, it seemed 10 him, necessarily end
in his favor.
The tree in which be had taken refuge
was an old oak that showed signs of aga
in many places. Many of the limbs had
decayed and the weather had eaten
many rlaces into its trunk. A short dis
lance above Davis head was the hollow
stump of limb that projected out from
the main trunk of the tree about two
feet. To this stump Davis attention
was attracted by gray squirrel that
ran up the tree and disapI cared in the
hole in tbs stump. Davis came to the
conclusion that there was nest Of
SQUIRRELS il the limb and determined
to vile away the time in trying to Sc
cure one or more of them. LEARN"
more of the lining from his coat he
carefully bandaged his right hand to
prevent his beng bitt, by the squir-
re's and started to invade their nest.
By graspirg limb with his left hand,
and standing on a protrudlng knot
below the hollow stump, he was able to
reach around and into it Graspipg
the limb firmly with his left hand, he
leaned over and drove his hand into
the hole. 1t settled into a live mass
of what he supposed YVES young SPUR
rels, and he tried to get grip
on one of them, but they seemed
able to avoid his grasp. While he was
vigorously working his hand around
in the hole his attention was attracted
by kissing sound above his head, and
looking up he was Mortified to see the
heads of half dozen blacksnakes pro-
trudine from the end of the hollow
stump into which he had put his hand.
It su idenly dawned upon him that he
had thrust his hand into the midst of &
nest Of snakes.
1t is not an uncommon thing foi'
squirrels and snakes to nest together.
The sudden and terrible revelation so
startled Davis that he loosed his hold
on the limb with his left hand and tt Q
next minute had swung off and was
dangling from the end of the hollow
stump, supported only by the arm thai
was thrust into it. In vain did he
struggle to regain his footing on tn
knot. He could not reach it, and to
render his suffering more terrible the
snakes. thoroughly aroused. and mad
dened by Davis hand, crawled out of
the limb and wound their black bodies
around the mans arm and body, hiss
ing and darling out their oulvering
fangs into his face. frightened beyond
control, Davis began to shout for help,
and madly fought with his free hand to
keep the reptiles from sinking their
fangs into his neck and face. He SUI
fared this terrible ordeal nearly an hol r
when fortunately his cries were heard
by the other campers, who had started
out in search for him, and they came
up. The bear sdccumDed to bullet
from Old Jacks rifle, and after con-
siderable trouble the snakes were dis
patched and Davis released from his
unpleasant rredioament.
The terrible experience uBhinged
Davis mind, and tor several Gays he
raved in the Wildfst delirium, and the
physicians say it will be a long time be-
fore he RECEIVERS from the severe ner.
vous shock be received.