The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-09
THREE BIG SERPENTS.
A Hunters Thrilling Adventures Wi
AEErY Reptilea.

A Hunters Thrilling Adventures with
Angry Reptiles.
John f. Simpson, who lives a mile or two
from here, on Flathead Creek, relates the
best snake story of the season. Simpson is
great hunter and spends most of his tinfe
in the woods. His house is situated not far
from the creeks banks and on the edge of a
thick hummock. One day recently John
started on his usual tramp, but somehow or
other had very little luck during the morn
ing. About noon he stopped on the edge of
a little lake, and kindling FIRE broiled some
birds that lie had shot and lay down for au
after-dinner siesta.
All at once he was awakened by feeling a
cold, clammy mass moving over his breast
underneath his coat. Raising his head
slightly, not understanding the situation, he
was brought to the startling consciousness of
his peril by hearing a buZzing under his
coat, and second later big black head
jumped up almost into his face with wide
open mouth, while its forked tongue played
back and forth with lightning swiftness and
its beady eyes snapped fire. 1t was RATHER
of the largest dimensions and John was
paralyZed with fear at the imminent danger
he was placed in.
His head sank back and he hardly dared
to breathe, so anxious was he to calm the
angry reptile. The snake kept up it's head
In threatening attitude for several sec
onds, or hours, as it sermed to john, and,
as If satisfied, slowly lowered it; but John
could feel the coils stretching over his breast
as 1t lay down. A few seconds later low,
rustling noise at one side Of him made him
still more anxious. and to add to that an
other suspicious sound was heard on the OPP
poslte side, which appeared to his strained
hearing as II score of reptiles were crawl
ing around him.
The RATHER. too, henrd the sound, and
raising its head UP slightly sounded the
deadly warning. The sounds on each side
OF him increased, and although he could not
see he Judged that one or more serpents were
|. racing around him. The RATHER grew more
and more angry, and its deadly rattles be-
came louder aud louder and its evil head was
raised high, its long red tongue playing be-
tween its lips like lightning flashes. johns
position was anything but an enviable one,
his blood became stagnant in the position he
Was forced TO assume and he was almost
crazy with fright
Suddenly streak of black flashed through
the air, and big blackspake hurled itself
upon the deadly RATHER, and in an Instant
the two were wrapped in a fierce embrace.
Another line OF black from on the opposite
side and a big king snake, even larger than
the black one, lunged himself upon the two
struggling combatapts. The mass Of three
hghting snakes on his chest set John crazy,
and with yell he suddenly leaped TO his
feet, throwing off his coat, and by good for.
tune dislodgpd the snakes, so that they fell
to his feet, while with another leap he was a
| dozen feet away.
| Tue RATHER struck at John as he Jumped
! up but missed and hit the blacksnake in
| stead; this further enraged this pugnaci0us
| reptile. and the fight waxed warm and
| deadly. The two snakes sought to wrap
| the RATHER in their long, strong folds, but
| the latter objected most seriously. Raising