St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-10
A Pet Snake Is a Partner In
the Tumble, and Proves OF
&c Service.
He WPiggles UP the Side Of a
Pit, Bearing q Note, Which
Brings Relief.
Experience OF a Man Detailed
to Follow Victories Band
Of Apaches


death of that famous chieftain in the
Candelera mountains, Chihuahua, Mex
leo, the remnant of the band recrossed
the Rio Grande, and my command
trailed them into the Sierra Dlabolo,
Just across the line of New Mexico,
killed several and brought three prison
ers back to Fort Davis, the seat of Pre-
sidio county. 1t was feared that the
scattering hostiles would unite again
and make another raid into Texas, and
to be prepared for an invasion of that
sort / was ordered to go into permanent
camp at Mooskie'S ranch, which is about
eight miles from the post.
Before we had been established at the
old ranch week our camp was overrun
with salamander rats. a small rodent
resembling the common field mole. but
d trifie larger. The pests created great
havoc among our forage, and us corn
was high-prieed and hard to get we
seriously considered abandoning our
camp. as it is almost impossible to get
rid of salamanderS once they establish
themselves in place. One of our
Mexican herders suggested a way out
of the difficulty. He assured US that the
king snake OF prairie runner was death
to SalamanderS, and a few OF these
reptiles turned loose in camp would
soon rid us of the corn-eating rats.
On the big Prison plain beyond Mitre
peak. at a point where the Southern
Pacific railroad now crosses. was known
to be favOrite haunt of the snakes,
and a scout Of men was ordered out to
capture few. The boys were gone
two days, and returned with a score or
more of the reptiles. The squirming lot
were released in the old rancho, and ia
two days time they had dispatched the
last salamander. After their food sup
ply became exhausted the snakes dis
appeared, and, as they can travel like q
race horse, probably made their way
back to their old hauntS of the Prison
plain. One big fellow had been tram
pied upon by ranger and so badly
wounded that he was left behind when
its fellows migrated, and speedily be-
came great pet. 1t ultimately recoy-
erred, but evinced no inclination to leave.
We chriStened his sEakeShip Bobo,
aud it soon became as tame as q kitten.
Boljo was very fond of milk. ana, as we
had an abundant supply, a neighboring
Tanchman giving us all that we could
carry away, the snake was always given
a big bowl Of its favorite beverage every
might; =
2 Bobo had the freedom of the camp,
and every man in the command was its
friend. In the morning, when the
horses and pack mules were sent under
GUARD to- Craze, Bobo would accompany
the herders, coiling up like a larlat
about the horn Of one OF the imenS sad
dies. so .-s=ss .:3a" % e i..
? Sometimes the snake world make
"trip to Fort Davis with a ranger. bnt it
would never stay away from camp over
night. AS soon as the sun set it would
scuttle away. and, being able to travel
as fast as the average horse, would
reach the ranch in time for its evening
ration of milk.
There was an abundance of game,
deer, antelope and Yin the vicinity of
our camp, and one day q big horn. or
Rocky mountain sheep, was started up
the Davis mountain, but 1t escaped be-
fore shot could be had at 1t. 1 was
particularly fond of hunting. and anx
ious to bag big horn. Without saying
anything Of my purpose, L left camp
early one morning with the determine
ton of bringing in the horns of the big
sheep, if L stayed away week.
Reaching the foothills of the Davis
range, entered one of the numerous
canons which traverse it, and, trotting
along, kept sharp lookout for big horn
sign. The canon in which L was riding
had ages. before been the bed of
mighty river, and l was obliged to
watch sharply for natural wells. hun
dreds of which pierced the old bed of
the stream. Night overlook me, and l
had not yet seen the faintest signs
of the quarry. | began to look
about for a suitable camping place
where there was grass and water. and.
as twilight is very brief in that latitude.
urged my horse into brisk eanter
Darkness came on very quickly, and |
was soon surrounded by an inky gloom.
Suddenly my horse pulled up so sharply
that [ threw myself back in the saddle
to keep from being pitched from my
seat, and then I found myself falling.
with the horse beneath me.
There was shock, and for moment
l was stunned. When L recovered con-
seriousness found that my horse had
tumbled down q natural well, thirty
feet i'll depth, and had been instantly
fortunately no bones were broken. 1t
did not take me long to realize the seri-
OuSly uncomfortable nature of my posi-
ton, for plainsmen think quickly.
The we'll into which | had fallen was
perfectly round. Its sides were as
smooth as glass. and it was too tar from
side to side for me to climb out by the
use of elbows and knees.
l was in a stone prison. dungeon
from which there was no escape without
help from the outside, and as | realized
this drop of rain splashed in my face,
and heard the distant rumble of thun-
der. A storm was coming on, and in
ten minutes time. if there was heavy
fall of rain, my trail would be obliter-
ated. tried to calculate how long l
c0nld hold out before search party
would come after me. and gave it I'D
when l considered how unlikely it was
that anything but the merest accident
would bring the searcherS to this par
tieular place. l was in tight hole in
more ways than one. and the thoughts
that came to me in the next two or
three minutes were decidedly solemn
ones. Suddenly cold. clammy
body touched my hand, and I
heard Bobo's familiar hiss. | spoke
to- the reptile, and it climbed up my
body to my shoulder. Where it had
lnRnaged to secrete itself all this time I
could not at first imagine. until l re-
that on the morning pre-
lviDhs | had found his snakeship in one
of my saddle pockets. to which it had
C1epb lOF Sucilef ITOul lfIe COiu tliSHJ ar.
''Poor Bobo." said [ aloud. 1--WE are
companions in misery, and. if am not
mistaken. our bones will eventually lie
together here. mixed up with those of
my horse. Anyway, I'll take smoke
| filled my pipe and struck match.
The bright light annoyed Bobo, and,
raising its head. reached out toward the
side of the well. Before the match
went out it had got hold upon the
smooth stone and was wriggling its way
toward the top. [ don't know what
made me think of 1t. but suddenly re-
membered Bobo's foDdness for milk
and dislike of staying away FROM camp
over night
Before the reptile was beyond my
reach pulled it back. determined to
make it the means of getting me ont of
the well. i twined its body about my
neck, and by the use of endearing
phrases tAid an occasional stroke of the
hand quieted the reptile. Striking an
nfhpr Inatch { tnrn Q iaaf frnn, my note