Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-10-01
A MOMENT OF TERROR.
While Camping Out Rattlesnake Crawl
Up q Hunters Trousers.

While Camping Out a Rattlesnake Crawls
Up Hunters Trousers.
DR.. Sampsel and ]. K. Snyder, both Of
Centerville, Conn, had an experience
recently that they will never forget.
They camped at the lower dam at Swift
Run near ledge Of rocks on the night
In question, and before darkness came
upon them they scraped lot of leaves
together for a bed and provided pile of
wood to keep up fire during the night.
About ten o'clock they prepared for
sleep and drawing blanket over them
lay down to pleasant dreams.
Along toward one o'clock Mr.. Snyder
felt chilly, and got up to put some more
wood on the fire, and then lay down and
soon fell into deep sleep from which
he was awakened by cold object which
seemed to be resting on his left leg.
Without moving he lay awake waiting
for developments. The nextmoment he
felt an indescribable sensation come
over him, which seemed to paralyze
every nerve in his body. Realizing that
there was something extraordinary the
matter he called to the doctor to hurry
and get up, as something was crawling
up the right leg of his pantaloons and
he believed it was snake.
The words went through the doctor
like an electric shock, and raking a
brand out Of the fire he approached Mr..
Snyder, who was lying as if paralyzed,
with the cold sweat standing in big
beads on his forehead. Halt blinded by
the pickering fame of the brand he no
ticed what at first looked like broad
strap hanging out of Mr.. Snyder's
| trouser leg, but the next moment ex-
| claimed:
"My God, Snyder, lie stiff; it's rat
tlesnakey'
Trembling like . leaf, Mr.. Snyder
seemed powerless to move even If he
would. The cond ton of things was
at once evident The reptile had been
attracted to the fire and sought warmth
on the person of Mr.. Snyder. Every
moment she disappeared further up the
leg, and prompt action was necessary.
Grasping the snake by the tail, the doc.
tor pulled with all his might His hold
slipped, and the rattles, fourteen in
number, came of and remained in his
hand. The reptile had wrapped itself
around the bare skin on the mans leg
and violently shook his derattled tail,
indicating anger at such harsh treat
ment This performance also threw Mr..
Snyder into commissions
Recovering himself, the doctor be-
thought himself of his knife, and quick
~ opening blade, keen as a razor, he
cut the pantaGooRs up to the body. This
released the snake, and she quickly IN
wound and threw herself into coil,
ready for effective work, but before she
could strike the doctor struck her blow
with club that cut her clean in two.
Mr.. Snyder was lifted by the arms and
dragged away from the hideous serpent
and the next moment was on his feet
scarcely able to stand.
They drank the balance of the NERVE
tonic" out of a pint bottle, which, tc
some extent restored their equilibrium
but sleep was out of the question, and
they spent the balance of the night in
stitching up Mr.. Snyder's trousers to
make him presentable, and at early
dawn they pulled up stakes and took Z
solemn oath to never no never bunk al
Swift Bun again.-N. Y. Sun.