The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-23
L COLUBER DE- LUM|BRE
Etling Tales Told by Indians Of
the Venomous Snake
Of Fire.
) Reptile Darts Deadly Flames
Into tho Body OF Ito
Victim.
Breath IL Dsath, Its Touch . Frightful
Burn-Encounter Of Old
Pablo With One.

b all there is probably not another 20
|tlinr as the tales they tell Of the colu-
de lumbre or snake of fire. This rep
according to the natives, overcomes its
mies by emitting from the mouth long,
streak of fire, which pierces the vltals
'the being against whom it 10 directed
ACTUALLY scorches tho life out. Many
kons. avs the Indians, have been scared
Ehe flames, and in nearly every instance
ii epsued instantly. It was the good
Eune Of a member Of the United States
logical survey, who was recently trans
Fed to a post on California coast, after
Inc spent many years in New Mexico, to
X with an aged Indian who maintained
Z such reptile really existed in years
| 9 by, and Who related the circumstances
personal encounters had with the ser
ts, The narrative of the Indian is pre-
ted below exactly as the official referred
grote it down:
he members of the geological survey
we're with me in Mexico were encamped
night in canyon close to the bank OF
i. There had been a fire in the under
sh not many yards from where our tents
I'D, and no man in the party was able to
plausible explanation az to it's origin,
the discussion of the subject was about
lease when an explanation of the mystic
kame from source whence we least ex-
ted it.
Maybe it was the coluber de lumbre."
Everybody turned toward the person who
spoken.
was Pablo, squatting in his usual corner
his knees drawn up so that ms chin
Id rest upon them, while his hands were
sped around his shins. Pablo was pa
|rch among the Indians of New Mexico,
he was also an excellent cook, and that
hunted for his being one of our party.
L how old Pablo was nObody-not even
hself tell. but it is fact that ne
man before the eldest of those who
rounded him was born.
The snake of fire, said I, who had never
I'd of it; what do YOU mean, Pablo!
Then the senior does not know of coluber
[umbre," calculated the aged Indian, as
eyes opened with wonder. IN
certainly / knew nothing of it.
hen Pablo told us it was serpent whose
cies existed only in that immediate vi
ty-a reptile which at full growth was
ut ten feet long and several inches in
meter, wonderfully quick in movement,
bse color was a vivid scarlet, from whose
b., when enraged, there difused q yellow
GLOW, while from it's mouth it would
Il long lightninglike streaks of living
he. Its breath meant death to anything
ouched, and where it writhed it's way
hg the ground there was left a trail
Fched as though by fire. At our looks of
redullty Pablo merely shrugged his
ulders.
Oh, Amigo mio," said he, 'sthere is q
be upon this land, but its blight is pass
away, for with each year the number Of
30 serpents grow less. But when was
NO have seen them out there in the
Sses these snakes that spit fire, many Of
b. Many of the Indians call them COL
r colorado
ablo ceased talking, but we were inter.
I'd and questioned him closely, being re-
ded with the information that these
hinous snakes were dreaded even more
rattlesnakes. They were aggressive
nbed trees, ran on top of the brush az
as on the ground, and would attack 8
or other animal and pierce with the
ne. He had seen them many times
pn the moon was hidden by clouds
irming over the grass and through it
sing phosphorescent glow around
m, while at short intervals fire would
h from their mouths, soaring the her.
% around and causing living things to
ten from the vicinity in terror. That
ir existence was we'll known Lys the
fact that many rocks in the vicinity
10 crude pictures of the serpent, and he
Nv of rocks the pictures on which must
Ee been drawn by ancient tribes year.
can attest the truth of this last
tement, for have seen pictures such al
bio described and often wondered what
Y meant.
Another time while hunting had occa-
to pass through thick patch Of chap
al. Suddenly, while resting, saw .
ght flash overhead, and looked upin tim,
zee scarlet snake gliding over the toI
he brush fully four feet above me, ane
lish in an instant. At the same time ,
tontail rabbit brushed past me, and
Lying about with every evidence OF feal
bewilderment, darted into small
ming not more than twenty feet from
Again saw the scarlet CLEAN, then tn,
owish flame. and all was over with tn
tontail."
Pablo was asked if he had ever had al
tounter with one of the snakes, and, will
hudder, he nodded afirmatively. Then
ing his long black hair from his face
old Indian exhibited scar which WA
Roubtedly caused by burn.
It was twenty years ago" he said b.
overs, was riding down the canyor. w
gers and killed in short combat man
q cats and coyotes. He was running Of
ad of the horses, when suddenly hear,
yelp, saw him rise in the air, and the
over sideways and lie quite still, ]
strange thought. He could not hay
Ia bitten by rattlesnake. because the
not cause instant death. I squire
ward until came to the dog wher
pping down l placed my hand upon him
was limp and lifeless. As I rose to m
was conscious .sa otms.e Ct siSkenipg ode
dizzy and strength was leaving m,
few feet from where I stood whs
beared to be long line Of frt
kh great effort I vaulted ont
mustang, and just as gained b
K saw that line of fire spring throhu
air toward me. Instantly my mustan
nmenced to rear and snort, and lookin
m saw twirled around one of his fol
large specimen of the coluber d
hbre. Suddenly the mustang plunge
thrown to the ground. Az I touche
earth was conscious of q blindin
h of light, a sensation as though q burr
brand had been thrust into my fac
then my senses left me.
Nearly five hours later l woke to I'm
self with the others of my party aroun
They had seen me thrown and roc
ckly forward. Disappearing throue
grass they knew mad been scorched I
deadly breath. Luckily for me Il
ne struck me in the face instead of in
il part, and after much work they 81
1ed in restoring me. That flame, how
:, had scared its way throuQ
face, and when the wouI
led, rs it did after mar
nths. this scar was left. Where Il
Ike had tvined itself around the mn
g's leg the flesh had been burnt avn
the bone was exposed. Once / q
of the snakes stretch on limb Of /
tree, its brilliantly colored body Al
per-colored head causing it to be wish
te a distance.
To those who know nothing Of q snal
ia il in n sourcA Of much auYuPinN M