Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-16
THE DIsGUsrED YOUNG DOCTOR,
acct the Whisky. For Gods Sake Get the
Whisky-Ouick,"
[St. Louis Globe-Democra

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
A party of citizens went down in the
Green river kentucky bottoms last sum-
mer on hunting expedition. Among the
party was an ex-Confederate soldier named
JEFF Landers, from Dixon. Jeff is a good
| fellow, but he has one failing-he likes the
| "critter," and whenever he can get enough
| whisky he gets SO drunk that his own
mother, it is said, fails to recognize him.
The boys passed the word among the party
that the jug should be kept out of Jeff's
reach. Otherwise he would be sure to get
as full as goat.
"I'll bet S." said one of the party who
knew JEFF, shat he will get drank before
| we get back. 1t is just his luck. Some
thing will happen and he will get the
| liquor"
Jeff's friend was laughed at, but there
was no one who wanted to take the bet.
81 will take it upon myself to see that
JEFF doesn't get his toddy this trip" said
Captain Hunter, the big man of the party.
The crowd reached the bottoms all right
| and camped out near the river. Two DAYS
passed and JEFF had not smelt the whisky.
"You see" said Captain Hunter to Jef's
friend, call you have to do is to manage
| things right"
On the third day out dinner was served
at the camp at precisely II o'clock. Each
one of the party received his share of the
dinner in his hands, and they all seated
themselves as comfortably as possible on
the ground and convenient logs around
the camp. JEFF chose rotten log near the
camp, and, seating himself astride the log,
he began his dinner with the hearty relish
that only a wornout hunter can enjoy.
The boys had Just about finished their
dinners, when they were startled by an
unearthly yell from JEFF.
Looking in the direction of the ex-
| Confederate soldier, the hunters were hor-
rifed at the sight that met their eyes. A
| large rattlesnake was coiled on one side of
the log near JEFF. The fatal warning had
been given by the snake, but JEFF appeared
to be paralyzed; he could not raise his leg
over the log. The hunters stood looking
Oh, completely spellbound. The snake
gave final ugly hiss, and then struck JEFF
fair on the leg, above the knee. The
charm was broken the instant the snake
struck, and the hunters sprang to the relief
of their comrade The snake was killed
in short order.
"Get the whisky! for Gods sake, get the
whisky ?" yelled Captain Hunter.
"Where did it bite your" said a young
doctor fresh from college, who was prepar-
ing to make an examination of the wound.
sect the whisky first" whispered jeff
The hidden Jug was brought forth from
its hiding place in haste. JEFF reached
for it like drowning man for a straw,
and, with an angelic smile, he raised the
| jug to his lips. The only sound for several
minutes was the eurgle Of the whisky as it
passed down Jeff's throat. Fortunately, the
| boys had consulted the jug freely before the
snake had bitten JEFF, and there was not
whisky enough in the jug to kill a man,
otherwise the hunting expedition would
have wound up with funeral. JEFF drank
every drop the jug contained; then, turn
| ing to the boys, he said:
'It's all right, boys; the Ticker will
save me, but it's lucky for me that l left
leg at Bull Run. The snake struck my
cork leg"
"Well, PIE swear" said the Captain,
| with a sickly smile, as he walked away.
The disguised young doctor followed the
Captain ard the rest of the party looked
cheap. After the snake bit JEFF he tar
ried in the tent; in fact, he was dead drunk
for few days and had to be hauled home
in the bottom of wagon bed. The boys
made a solemn agreement never to take
JEFF along again on a hunting expedition.