Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-10-22
BATTLE WITH a SNAKE.
A Messenger In California Meets Win
Thrilling Experienee.

m
Thrilling Experience.
II never want to pass throuoA
such an experience again said ~
ecutiye Messenger A. A. Walton a. H.
replaced the cover on tho box arS
set the receptacle in drawer al,
makes me shudder TO think of NV
adventure.
Messenger Walton's thrilling aa.
venture happened on Governor Mari.
hams recent quail hunting trip Il
Kern county says the Sacramento
News Walton accompanied tba
governor on mis- outing. The ineldent
can be best told Ia the messengers
own language:
The country over which we vera
hunting, said he. was slightly
broken up and in spots covered vita
considerable brush. When we 6r,t
went there We were informed that
while quail were plentiful in tina
vicinity the supply OF snakes was
limited, This was somewhat o
disappointment TO me as we hal n
our commissary stores goOdly ia.
voice Of snake antidOte
''sOr several days in our field sports
We never encountered ratller. va
weren't particularly anxious 10 aad
them either Don't you know there
Is something loathsome about crawl.
Ing. kissing snake and especially d
the ObnoAtousness intensified whea Il
rattles
III was the morning prior 20 the day
fixed for our departure when | went
out Of the cabin 10 collect llttls
wood | was unaeeompanled By dog
gun or even a stick. Tho mir was n.
spring and was full OF melody.
MhlstIing 'Annle Rooney I stopped
over small bush 20 gather dead
branch As ! was about 10 pick Il up
a buzking sound informed mo that tho
bush concealed a RATHER.
With fright jumped back. just
40 tho iiattened and wicked head Of
the RATHER puuctuFed tho top branches
Of tho bush and appeared IN sight
saw 10 moment that tho snake vas
o monstrous aad wicked reptile
The RATHER Was aggressive. Vita
surprising alncr.iy IL cleared the bush
aud darted for me retreated quickly
with my face 10 tho serpent II was
nil that could do i6r a few moments
% keep out 81 th0 way Of tho reptile
II would jump nearly Ia iull
length. then with lighiniag rapidly
i Nou!l coli up and "a instant later
again jump.
The rather pursued me for fully
100 yards before was abla 70 make
this least poss bic detsnsc from is on.
slaaghI only what my legs permitted
and lot mo tell you | moved mighty
rapid too.
Finally tho RATHER from IS exclt.
Ing etcrtions shovel signs OF bncom-
log tired Tho ground over which
wo were passing contained many
stones tho sizo Of your cleaohed tlss or
larger
AS reireatcd. constantly keeping
my eyes on the snake picked up
stone after stone and hurled ihcm d.
the RATHER. Il IL remarkable what
accurate sight korn county suaka
possesses Tho snake for timG
seemingly without effort aolged tho
rain OF missiles which I sant at is
wriihing. squlrmlng body.
But mans superior endurance
finally became triumphant With well
directed nim | struck tho RATHER on
the head and tho baltic was over.
Tho rather measured three feet
i've aud ono halt Inches 10 length. Al
tho biggest part OF It's BODY the snake
was seventeen and three quarter inches
Ia circumference
In tho box which Messenger Wall
ton 50 carefully put AVA among the
archives Of the governors Office were
the rntGlos Of the mOnstrous and bell
ligerent brute They numbered hfIy'
four and button.