The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-11
THE CHAMF11N SNAKE STORY.
It's About King Snake Which
Proved Valuable Messenger.
From The NelO York sun.


From the Ne,U York Sun.
In 1880, while a member of + company
of the Texas State Rangers, was ordered
up into Preside county with squad of
men TO follow Victories murderous band
of Apaches After the death of that
famous chieftain in the Candelera noun
tains, Chihuahua, Mexico, the remnant of
the band recrossed the Rio Grande, and
my command trailed them into the Sierra
Diabolo, just across the line of New Mexico,
killed several and brought three prisoners
back to Fort Davis, tne seat of Preside
county. 1t was feared that the scattering
hostiles would unite again and make another
raid into Texas, and TO bs 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 a week our camp was overruu with
salamander rats. a small rodent resem bling
the common field mole, but a trife larger
The pests created great havoc among our
forage, and as corn was high 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 way out of the difficulty He
assured us that the king snake or prairie
runner was death to salamanders, and 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 point where the Southern Pacific
railroad now crosses, was known to be a
favorite4aunt of the snakes and scout of
men was ordered out to capture few. The
boys were gone two days, and returned with
score or more of the reptiles. The
squirming lot were released in the old
ranch, and in two days time they had dis
patched the last salamander. After their
food supply became exhausted the snakes
disappeared, and as they can travel like u
race horse, probably made their way hack
TO their old haunts on the prison plain.
One big fellow had been trampled upon by
a ranger and 50 badly wounded that it was
left behind when its fellows migrated and
speedily became great pet. 1t ultimately
recovered, but evinc1 ID no inclination to
leave. We christened his snakeship Bobo,
and it soon became as tame as a kitten
Bobo was very fond of milk, and, as we had
an abundant supply, a neighboring ranch
man giving us all that we could carry away,
the snake was always given a big bowl of
its favorite beverage every night.
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 out under guard to Craze,
BObo would accompany the headers coil
ing up like Iariat about the horn Of one of
the mems saddles.
Sometimes the snake would make trip
to Fort Davis with ranger, but 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 av-
erage horse, would reach the ranch in time
for its evening ration of milk
There was an abundance of game, deer,
antelope and elk in tue vicinity of our
camp, and one day big horn or Rocky
mountain sheep was started up in the
Davis mountain, but it escaped before shot
could be had at it. was particularly fond
of hunting and anxious to bag a big horn.
Without saying anything of my purpose, l
lett camp early one morning with the deter
mination of bringing in the horns of the
big sheep, If stayed away a week.
Reaching the foothills of the Davis range
L entered one of the numerous canyons
which traverse t,and, trotting along, kept a
sharp lookout for big horn sign. The canyon
IN which was riding had ages before been
the bed Of mighty river, and | 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 sign of the quarry. |
began 20 look about for a suitable camping
place, where there was grass and water
and, as twilight is very brief In that lati-
tude, urged my horse into a brisk cauter
DeA4 hAAOS' NoA1O OA NSiJ QulChiy anu was
soon surrounded by an inky gloom. Sud
denly my horse pulled up 50 sharply that l
threw myself far back in the saddle to keep
from being pitched from my seat, and then
l found myself falling, with the horse be-
meath me.
There was a shock and for a moment
was stunned. When | recovered conscious
ness | found that my horse had tumbed
down u natural we'll, thirty feet in depth,
and had been instantly killed. | was con
siderably shocked. but fortunately no bones
were broken. 1t did not take me long to
realize the seriously uncomfortable nature
Of my position, for plansmen think quickly.
The well into which had fallen was per-
! fecty round. It's sides were as smooth
As glass, and it was too far from side to
for me 10 climb out by the use Of elbows
and knees.
was IN stone prison, al dungeon from
which there was no escape without help
from the outside. and as / realized this a
drop Of rain splashed In my faos aud
heard the distant rumble Of thunder. A
storm was coming on. and In ten minutes
time, II there was "a heavy fall OF rain, my
trail would be elaborated. tried 10 calcu,