Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-10-04
A STRANGE NEcK-TIE.
Made from the Skin of Snake Tha
Saved the Wearer's Life.

Ma0e from the skin OF snake Tnat
Saved the Wearer's Life.
1t may be of interest to the inhabitants
of dudedom to know that there is new
and decidedly unique style of neck-tie
in town. Its owner, who is also the de-
signer and manufacturer, is to be seen
occasionally in the rotunda of the Grand
Pacific Hotel. He came from Califor-
mia, and his tie, which since his arrival
hes attracted considerable attention, is
product of that State. Brown in color
is this tie, about an inch and
half wide, and at casual glance looks
like strip from an alligator hide; but
it isn't. There is no diamond pin for
ornament nor any manufactured jewel.
In place of one is round dull-colored
substance, not quite so large as pea.
When group OF acquaintance had ex-
amined the tie to their satisfaction last
evening and guessed it's nature until
their judgments and imaginations were
exhausted, the wearer informed them
that the tie was the dried skin of rat
tlesnake and the ornament one of its
rattleA
"You are, I see, surprised that I
should wear such thing at my neck"
he continued. "But when you know
that to the snake that inhabited this
skin l owe my life you will agree that
my notion is not so incomprehensible
after all. 1t was five years ago this
summer that the event occurred. / was
hunting in the mountains at home, and
after tramping about from daylight till
late in the afternoon, found that was
lost and completely tired out. However,
there was no hope Of getting back alone
that night, so l built fire, ate my sup
per, and, knowing that, fatigued as I
was, it would be impossible to keep
awake long, l wasted no time in trying,
but collected lot of fre-wood, lay down
and went to sleep. How long l slept
don't know, but l remember l awoke
slowly, with a heavy feeling on nv
breast. Too tired to turn over, and
thinking the feeling due to my heavy
blanket, was about to drop off again
to sleep when l felt hand grip nv
throat. Opening my eyes, l saw kneel-
ing beside me, one hand holding me
down and the other with long bowie
IL.
Indian saw me, looking at me, he Missed:
White spy no catch Red Knife. If he
do, he kill Red Knife. But Red Knife
catch white spy and kill him. There
was no mistaking the look in the ewes
of that savage, who, as he mentioned
his name, knew to be a much-wanted
murderer, who had killed several
farmers in Humboldt County. The look
meant death, and as he moved his hand
to strike me more sqarely in the heart
shuddered and closed my eyes, At the
same time the weight on my body
sprang off, the Indian gave a veil
of rage, and l opened my eyes Just in
time to see him make sweep over the
ground with his knife and disappear in
the bushes. | sprung to my feet and,
grabbing my gun, followed to get shot
at him. But though the frequent break
ing of twig betrayed his general
whereabout | couldn't see him, so l
fired both barrels in his direction with
only the result of making him increase
his pace, returned to the fire and found
that within two feet of where l had
been sleeping lay beheaded rattle
snake. 1t was the snake which, cOiled |
on my breast, had first awakened me- !
Had then moved it would have bitten
me. 1t was probably asleep when the
Indian took hold of my throat, and
awakened as he spoke, had bitten the
hand of the Indian as he moved it to get |
better position. But that bite staid |
the knife; for, we'll aware of the danger |
of the bite, the murderer instinctively
swept his armed hand toward the snake,
luckily killing the reptile, and then
ran for an antidote. Well, l didn't
sleep any more that night But killed
time by skinning the snake, and when
1 reached home next day stretched it,
and when it had dried | made this tie of
it, and for pin used one of the rattles."
"What became of the murderer"
asked an interested youth.
"a posse set out for him at once, and
about two miles from where l spent the
night they came across cave in which
they found him dead. The snake bite
had killed him before the whisky from
from a jug which lay overturned beside
him could counterfeit the effects of the
poison. Post.