The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-01
A MINUTE OF TERROR.

A Hunter Lies Still and Lets a Rattlesnakc
Crawl Up His Trousers.
DR.. Sampsel and j. X. Snyder, both of
Centreville, had an experience at Swift Run
on Friday night of last week that they will
never forget, says the Middleburgh Post.
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 bed and provided a pile of wood to
keep up fire during the night. About 10
O'Clock they prepared for sleep. and draw
ing blanket over them, lay down to pleas
ant dreams.
Along towards 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 DO resting on his leg. With
out moving he lay awake waiting
for developments. The next moment he
felt an understandable sensation come over
| him which seemed to paralyze every nerve
| in his body. Realizing that something ex-
| traordinary was the matter. he called to
| the doctor to hurry and get up, as some
thing was crawling up the right leg of his
pantaloons, and he believed it was a snake.
| The words went through the doctor like an
! electric shock, and raking brand out OF
T the fire, he approached Mr.. Snyder, who was
lying as if paralyzed, with the cold sweat
| standing in big beads on his forehead.
| Half blinded by the Pickering flame of the
| brand, he noticed what at first appeared
like q broad black strap hanging out of Mr..
| Snyder's trouser leg, but the next moment
| exclaimed: MY God, Muckel, lie still; it's
| n raftlesnake!o
Trembling like leaf, Mr.. Snyder seemed
powerless to move even if he would. The
| condition of things was at once evident.
| The reptile had been attracted by the fire,
| and sought warmth on the person of Mr..
| Snyder. Every moment she disappeared fur
| Their up the leg, and prompt action was
| necessary. Grasping the snake by the tail,
the doctor pulled with all his might. His
hold slipped end the rattles, fourteen in
number, came off and remained III his
hand. The reptile had wrapped itself
| around the bare skin on the mans leg and
violently shook his derattled tail, indicating
| its anger at such harsh treatment. This
Performance almost threw Mr.. Snyder into
commissions.
Recovering himself, the doctor bethought
himself Of his knife. and. quickly opening
a blade keen rs razor, he cnt the alta-
looms up to the body. This released tho
snake and she quickly unwound and threw
| herself into u 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 their "nerv.
tonic's ont Of pint bottle. which, to som,
extent, restored their equilibrium, bu
sleep was ont of the question, and the,
spent the balance of the night in stitching
up Mr. Snyder's trousers to make him pre-
septable, and at early dawn they pulled nj
stakes and took q solemn oath to never. 40
ever, bunk at Swift run again.