The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-02-27

We had n lady teacher once Mt the old red
clapboarded log schoolhouse that was n terror
in her own way TO her lesson hating flock for
her able-bodiod methods Of using fat hickory
ruler on palm or hngertps-or elsewhere but
that boy Dri5cOl was a terror also 10 her, and
she was not only afraid TO 20 near where no
sat on the long bench. but she got So that sho
wouldn't let him 60 within six feet of her desk
for fear that sho would either see snake peeping
from his pockets or that he would slyly drop
one among the papers before her to let her dis
cover g all To onc't." Bless my soul how that
woman would yell at such times; you could
hear her Il mile each way up and down the
river. When the young villain was successful
in getting her thoroughly snake-scared, we
reaped benefit thcroir0m, for she would be so
agitated that after dosing several of US with
her awful rulcr--I say "us" adyisedly-she
would be forced 10 dismiss school for the day
But she never forgot to take her scare out Of
few Of US first with the rule
One Of the terrors Of my service on the great
plains west of the Missouri was the extensive
and widely y-assortcd collection Of Ophidians aud
tho sound OF rattle would make me vacAte
any neigh bofh00d when heard it, with great
promptncss. In this respect, was very much
like many of MY brother officers; hut there was
one in the regiment 10 whom tho sight Of "A
snake was a fascination, aud he was also cx.
ceedingly fond OF other reptiles; especially OF
the many-hned little lizards that daTted about
everywhere like so many flashes Of brilliant
sunlight
TO this officer (who was afterward killed
with Gen. Custer in the massacre Of the Little
Big Horn a rattlesnako was not a crotaus
horridus but rather a charming specimen of
animal life TO be captured and made play
thing OF. and IL was seldom, while scouting in
the ield. when ho did not have one or even
more, about his clothing. His horrd fancy
did not 90 so far as to risk tie dreadful venom
Of the wicked looking faugs. for he used deftIy
TO remove those before pOckcting the serpent.
While riding along if he heard rattle"
he would dtsmount at once, aud when le had
found the snake his amusement began. He
would tease the rattler by making it strike in
anger at the point Of his gaber, and prevent it
FROM crawling away to its hole When no had
tired Of the sport Of making the reptile keep
itself in coil for Defense he would let IL alone
n bit until the tortured aud frightened thing
would begin to slip away in flight, and then,
with quick turn, would place the fiat of tho
sabcf- point across the neck, pinning t fast. As
the snake c0iled around the blade, tho Licuten-
ant would slip back the point so that the cap
tive had three or four inches play Of its head,
aud then he would snap bright silk handser-
chief at it until tho fangs fastened in its meshes,
when quick jerk would tear away the yeno-
nous weapons, and the snake was harmless.
His next proceeding WAS 10 roll the poor dis.
armed snake up in his handkerchief aud stow
il away in pocket. or even inside the folds Of
his flannel campaign shirt, aud save IL to have
more fun with. One of his ideas of fun WAS like