The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-28
JOB DEPARTMENT..
Ben Bradley Holds Down Big Rat.
tier.

Ben Bradley Holds Down y Big Rat.
tier.
One of the most thrilling snake
stories OF the season was related to
the Globe-Democrat correspondence
a short time ago. Ben Bradley, one
of the characters of the place, is tho
hero of it, which vouches for its
truth. One day Ben was down at
his logging camp near the Weklva
river. some six miles from here. One
OF his teams was out longer than it
ought to he, in his opinion, and
thinking that something might be
the matter, jumped on his horse and
started in search of it. After pro-
ceeding some distance he discovered
the wagon and started forit through
the woods. When within 100 yards
or SO of it lie saw something moving
in the grass ahead of him. and, peer
Ing down from his saddle to see what
it was, he was astonished and
alarmed to find out that it was q
huge rlttlesnake, coiled up and just
ready to strike. He saw his danger
and undertook to wheel his horse to
one side, by jerking one rein. when to
his dismay the line parted. This
frightened the horse, % young and
skittish pony, and to add to it's ter
ror, the snake began sounding its
warning rattle. Seeing the snake
then tor the first time, and being
thoroughly scared I,y the ominous
death sounding rattle, the pony sud-
denly jumped to one side, breaking
theSaddle-girth and throwing Brad
ley and he saddle right on top of
the ugly and deadly reptile. Ben
was frightened beyond the power
of moving hy the immensity
of his peril, and lay for
some seconds utterly henumbcd. His
presence OF mind SOON returned, and
then he full danger Of his position
burst upon him. The loathsome
monster was terribly ang cred ut the
load upon it, and ben could feel it's
terrible folds twisting and coiling in
vain effort to free itself. Its head
was buried partially under the thick
coat Bradley had ON, and which had
been ON his saddle. Its tail was
workin" furiously. sounding it's dead
ly warning, while the ,isngreeable
and musky odor fairly filled the air,
making the imperilcd man very sick,
He we'll knew that il he could keep
the snakes head covered up he was
safe, but he didn't dare risk trying
to get away without assistance; SO
he remained perfectly still, taking
good care that the rattler's head
was covered, all the while waiting for
assistance. Bradley. though not a
large man is very stout and hardy,
and his hunting experience stood by
him in good play. lie held his foe
close prisoner until after some ten
minutes, when his driver, who had
seen him disappear, came to his re-
llef. The driver was rather aston
islled to sen. Bradley sitting on the
saddle and clutching something in
the folds ot his heavy coat with q
death grip, while his face expressed
great concern and some alarm.
''Are you l,irt" anxiously in.
quired the driver.
No said Ben, with IL grimace,
"bnt if you don't help me pretty
quick Ill be dead from fright. There
is IL big rattler here, and it's n ques-
tion which is the hest man."
The driver took I'm the situation ut
once. and went into the fight. Pro-
ceeding cautiously up close, he seized
hold of the snakes tail and began
drawing the ugly monster out. The
snake resented this, and shook his
rnttles more angrily and squirmed
SO hard to get his head out that Ben
began to get nlnrmcd. for, despite
his best cn'eavors to keep the
snakes head in chancery, the rat
tier was surely but slowing getting
free. "D--it, Joe, kill him quick;
cant hold OH mnrhlongcr," finally
yelled Bradley, The driver gave an
other pull at the snake, and laying
til" reptiles body across u dead
limb under Ben, severed it in twain
with one blow of his axe, within two
feet of it's head. Bradley gave q
jump as he saw the amputation and
landed som" 10 feet from the writh-
ing remains, terribly worn out and
SO exhausted from his narrow es-
cape that it was fully half an hour
before lie could recover strength to
mount his horse, which his man
caught, and go to camp. The snake
was;l monster, measuring seven feet
nine inches in length. and had seven
teen rattles, and it's bodyi in the larg-
est part w:ls as big as u mans leg
above the knee. Ben says it was the
worst position he ever was in, and
said that the old coat saved his
bacon without doubt, for without
that protection hewould have landed
right on top of the snake ready for
it to strike.-Sanforl (Fla.) Cor.
Globc-Democrat.