The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-09-21
a.

..ss Il Juls OF whlskey os4islslS 4he door
and after taking a long drink the man
staggered over TO the fire, threw on a few
faggots, and then lurched into the house
The other discovery WAC that the black
water in the bayou was rising He got
tbs hint from the action of coons, rabbits
and the snakes. They were pressing
toward the higher ground on which the
house stood, and none of them seemed to
mind his presence.
Dan did not hope to accomplish his er-
rand without fight. What he was fig
uring for was an advantage which would
put them on something like even terms.
He had Winchester rifle, and IL he could
reach the cabin before the crowd were
aroused he would take his chances.
Taking advantage of such shelter as
was afforded, and being ready at any
moment to open the q ighc, the man finally
reached the cabin. 1t was a stout strllc-
ture, with n heavy door opening out
ward. On the plank floor within, sprawled
out in reckless fashion, were five sleep
ing men-Capt. Dade and his outlaws
They were not only sleepers, but each
man WAS blind drunk. Tho place smelled
like barroom, and it was plain that the
whole crowd had turned TO FOR = regular
old spree. Guns, revolvers and knives
we're lying about on the floor, and some
OF the men had partly undressed them
sslves
Dsn could have gone among them and
stabbed each one to the heart without
ri=k, bat he was not coward enough for
this. had assured him that every out-
law caught should be hanged l5y the neck
until dead. He was thinking that he
~oald biEd the fellows tight and fast, re-
move their weapons, and then bar them
IN until lie could return for help and cap
ture the lot for the EallCws tree
This plan would have been carried out
bat tor one unlooked-for circumstance.
The snakes were taking possession OF
the cabin a dozen rushed in through
the open door III quick succession. and
others climbed up TO the open window, and
either fell to the floor or squirned along
tho logs. Here was safety from the rising
waters Their fear Of man was ternpor-
nrily henumbed by tho other danger, and
cotton mouth, rattlor and moccasin
passed the man at tho door without
thought CT using their deadly fangs.
II believe" said Dan, IL .elatina, his
story to me, that fun fifty Of the pizen
reptiles passed in thar within five min
uteA, and t-en changed my plan.
lcaretu!iy pulled the door TO and braced
II tsEut with log. Thar was = wooden
blind 10 the window, and this also
shut auG brsced. Thar was room. erouyh
under the door for mere SNAKES to 20 in.
bu- It 7ould h&yo taken tie strluctlI cf
five sober men TO break it down. cal
Serl.tcd IS how that room would be
holiin' about n hundred snakes when tie
icllcTs began to rub their eyes open, and
f'lt sure l could leave the Job TO them
to finish"
Ho bad to wade in water knee-deep be-
f,r b.,s o. = - ~
after daylight nsIt morning when ne
oSme to my headquarters o make ms re-
port and ask for n detail of men to 20
back rith him.
. ~ NhS5 do you suppose has happened by
this timer! l asked when he bad firished
his story.
Dead, sir, every nlan Of 'em, A" no re-
piled 'TEem snakes got over their
Scare in about half an hour, aId the first
in'n who moved to get up had pi.en shot
into him lika a streak OF lightning.
TLarll bc FIVE corpses thar to be identi-
fed, ai:l thar'u be some property to be
divided up" -,
lconcluded to go along with the detail,
aad about noon We reached the place.
Tie water had come up within fifty feet
Of the cabin door, thus OVERLOOKING most
Of the clearing, and our progress from
with snakes. We had TO kill score of
th-rl before we could land
Tho door aud blisd were ~ Dan had
left tLcm, and it was plain that none OF
the mon had come out. He advanced
nlone to the door, threv i5 open, and
after n hasty glance inside, came back to
Us with his f.co as pale ~ death.
Dead, | suppose'" queried.
All in - heap, sir, and thar's mo- than
n Thousand snakes inside"
None Of the rest OF us cared TO advance
and encounter the sight, and as il was
Impossible TO remove anything from the
cabin ~o returned to tho post. In a
couple Of days the water fell AWAY again.
and then Dan went over and secured
about erOo worth OF personal property,
and burned the cabin down over tAs
bodice of tho dead l gave him permis-
sion 10 keep al he found, and made a full
report ot al Iaa facts TO my superior
The story went out that / shut the
Dnoc gang in after di-nrmiu;; them in 4
fair tight, and the story was supylc-
uentei by half dozen Others, ali false,
and the effect was wonderful Within
ten days every outlaw had como IN aud
surrendered, aud begged for his life.
Two weeks later there wasn't Il ''hidcr
ONT" in my whole district, and it was
safe for men to go everywhere. The
snake business, which Dan insisted on
giving mo credit for, was of more help
than :. regiment OF Federal infantry
GEORGE SHELDON. +;