The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-24
A RATHER IN BED.
Jim Conley Thought IL Was an Iceberg
Agninat His BsCk.

Talking about rattlesnakcs. " said jim Con-
ley, as he rerused the interesting snake de
partment Of the Globe Democrat, while sit
ting in a crowd Of men occupying the outside
chairs at McPhersOn's corner, across the way
few days ago, Il was an eyewitness and An
unwilling participant IN one of the bloodiest
encounters with "a rattlesnake recorded III the
history of Dtah Territory
well what are YOU waiting for2 Why
don't you 90 on,n asked the correspondent Of
the Globe Democrat at Hillsboro, n. NJ.
Match. please"
Certainly
After Conlcy had lit his cigar he continued.
'Mhle travelling IN that country between
Ogden and Salt Lake City with another man.
a good many years ago, We got busted and
had TO 60 10 work at anything We could get 10
do We got a contract from a Norman settler
on the road to cut and haul from the mountains
800 cords OF wood lie furnished everything.
and gave Us 50 much for the job. The camp at
which he sat Us down WAS SIX miles away IN
the foothills of the range. near whore there
were a lot of campers cutting and hauling
railroad ties TO the valley for the Union Pacific
railroad We camped in the yard of a man
and his wife. got water out of the same
spring. and finally became very well ac-
Quantcd with them. and indeed they proved
60 be mighty fine people. Moll next morn
ing after our arrival at the camp. Bill and
] went 10 work chopping down trees anu
cutting them into fOur-iOOt lengths ready
to haul. Things went on admirably,
and We wero doing nicely, when We
took notion one morning 10 20 down
~ the ranch and spend the day with our EN-
ployer and his family During the day We
had psrtaken literally of the hOsptalitlcs at
the ranchman's house, and became somewhat
fuddled,' but not overly SO. and returned
home in good shape We both felt tired from
our walk and retired TO bed about 9 O'Clock
had been asleep, | don't know how long.
when l awoke feeling n GOODNESS at my back
Lhat WIS not IN keeping with the weather, for
IL WIS summer. and though the days We're eX-
tremely hot. the nights were cool but not 10
the extent of the cold sensation al nv back
began to pull at the wagon sheets with
which We were covered, and walked nv part
ner UP. Turning over. Bill. in an angry tone,
asked:
whats the matter. Got snakes
No | replied, but am as cold rs Ice
land itself. and want some more cover or
will vacate tins bed and build fire.
Go TO sleep and you'll be all right sad
Bill. and lie turned over for comfortable
snooZe.
But could not 60 to sleep for that feeling
Of GOODNESS over behind me. and at last de-
termined to investigate the cause of il. Reach
ing behind me with my right hand. without
turning over, | began to feel around, for il
felt exactly ike an iceberg living up against
me and my hand soon found its way un der and
through thefolds OF the bedding and brought IL
up against something which Gidnot feel natural
by any means. and. Tor the first time the idea
If snake being IN bed with me entered my
mind. | cautiously withdrew nv hand and
arm and moved toward Bill and let the cover
drop down between me and the object had
telt, and crawled out over my bedfellow's
body and from under the cover q, the oppo-
site side, and left bill suOOzing away. then
Ia oct nm. and b.l,
what II was, IN the meantime finding candle
and lighting II. With much crlmblinc Bill
arose from under the cover and began helpinr
me search for the mystery. Turning the
cover down there lay. III comfortable coil. one
OF the biggest rattlesnakes ever seen in Nor
mondom."
Another match, please"
Yes"
Well sir, the serpent didn't move. but Law
as quietly Us the coil of a steamboat cable
Our confusion and noise had awakened the
man anu ms wlie IN the next tent, and they
o0ih Ieaped ont of bed and came in 10 see
what was the matter for there were Indians
ABOUT and the woman was ready for scare M
any time 80
There lay the RATHER, apparently as sound
tsleep rs WAS Bill few minutes before Rusb
ny 70 The woodward, | soon returned with an
axe and told the crowd to stand back and
give me room; Everything being clear.
IAlseu my axe above my heal and came down
On me con Of the snake with powerful blow
Wei. men. that reptile fell into a dozen
pieces; cooled tightly as he was. for when
came DOWN with the sharp blade of the axe
ngon HIM II had went through him number
on u,'ss. u would surprise YOU 10 know how
ihucI olOou raitcsnako contains Why. the
blood souirted from the ends Of ali the pieces
ike iioor sprinkler, thoroughly satufatine
everything that We could not take out OF the
way After the excitement had somewhat
pubsided We shovelod the pieces out in the
rArd. and ns1t morning. placing them "a