Morning journal and courier., 1892-06-17
CHASED BY RATTLER.
Pursued for a Hundred Yards by ,
 Reptile That Meant Busiucss.

ards bN a Reptile That Meant Busincss. From the Sacramento News1 "I never want to pass through such an experience again" !" said Executive Messen- ger A. A. Walton as he replaced the cover on the box and set the receptacle in a drawer. 'It makes me shudder to think of my adventure"
 Messenger Walton's thrilling adventure happened on Governor Msrkham's recent qusilhunting trip in Kern county. Wal ton accompanied the governor on his out ing The incident can be best told in the messengers own language:
 ''The country over which we were hunt ing," said he, twas slightly broken up and in spots covered with considerable brush. When We first went there We were in- formed that while quail were plentiful in ited. This was disappointment to me, as we had in our commissary stores a good ly invoice of snake antidote.
 "For several days in our field sports we never encountered rattler. We weren't particularly anxious to find them, either. Don't you know there is something loath- some about a crawling, hissing snake, and especially is the obnoxiousness intensified when it rsttlesl
 ''1t was the morning prior to the day fixed for our departure when I went out of the cabin to collect little wood. The hour was early. was unaccompaRied by dog, gun, or even a stick The air was in spiring and I was full of melody. Whist ling Annie Rooney I stopped over small bush to gather dead branch. As was about to pick it up 8 buzzing sound informed me that the bush concealed a rattler
 ''With frigh. I jumped back just ss the iattened and wrinkled head of the rattler punctured the top branches of the bush and appeared in sight. I saw in & mo- ment that the snake was @ moustrous and wicked reptile.
 rhe rattler was aggressive. With sur prising alacrity it cleared the bush and darted for me. I retrested quickly, with my face to the serpent. It was all that could do to keep out of the way of the reptile.
 ''It would jump nearly its full length, then with lightning rapidity it would coil up, an instant later again jump.
 "The rattler pursued me for fully one hundred yards before was able to make the least defence from its onslaught, only what my legs permitted, and, let me tell you. moved mighty rapid, too.
 Finally tho rattler, from its exciting exertions, showed signs of becoming tired The ground over which we were passing contained many stones the size of your fist or larger.
 "As I retrested, constantly keeping my eyes on the snake, picked up stone after stone and hurled them at tho rattler. It is remarkable what accurate sight a Kern county snake possesses. The snake for a time, seemingly without effort, dodged the rain of missiles which sent at its writh- ing, squirming body.
 But mans superior endurance finally became triumphant. With well-directed aim struck the rs.tler on the head and the battle was over.
 "The rattler measured three feet five l and one-hslf inches in length. At the biggest part of its body the snake meas ured seventeen and one-fourth inches in circumference"
 In the box which Messenger Walton so carefully put away among the archives of the governors office were the rsttles of the | monstrous and belligerent brute. They | numbered ffty-four and button.