The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-08-24
A HORRIBLE NIGHT
EXPERIENCED BY A KENTUCKY MAN
AND HIS WIFE.
Surrounded by Deadly Rattlers-A Battle
Which Results in the Death of Nearly
One Hundred and Fifty of Them.

sensational story which Surpasses any
thing of its kind yet reported. 1t says:
Timothy Gates, of Gates Station, was in
town today to relate his narrowing eX-
perience of last night and to obtain the
services of a physician to attend his
wife, who lies in deadly stup0r,
brought on by fright or caused by
breathing the sickening fumes arising
from the mass of deadly rattlers that
surrounded them during the night.
Gates's cabin is occupied only by him
self and wife, and is elevated some two
feet off the ground. His three valuable
watch dogs aroused him from his slum-
bers about II o'clock last night He and
his wife intently listened ana thought
they discerned the sound of many rattlers
above the baying of the dogs. Soon the
dogs ran under the house, and the hiss
ing and rafting that was now heard
fully convinced them that rattlesnakeS
in great numbers were beneath their
cabin. Soon the barking of the dogs
ceased, and they were satisfied that their
defenders were laid low in death. Great
were their fears, and Mrs. Gates soon
became unconscious. They were afraid
to move out Of bed, as there were large
holes in the floor that the snakes could
crawl through, and in their Imagination
the snakes were in the room all around.
Mr.. Gates, well known to our citizens
as a starlwart man of raven locks, was
scarcely recognizable today, owing to his
whltened hair hair having turned gray
by fright in a single night Dr.. Howard,
who went to see his wife, reports her in
n critical condition, and having the APP
pearance of having aged ten years during
the night. Mr.. Gates relates that upon
the light penetrating his cabin SO he
could see, he cautiously peered around
and, seeing no signs of snakes in the
room, he got up dressed and looked out
in the yard, where his eyes beheld a
sight which was enough to strike terror
20 the stoutest heart. There in the yard
were hundreds of snakes lying lazily
about, apparently unconcerned. In the
course of an hOura neighbor approached
on horseback, and, nearing the cabin,
his horse stopped as if paralyz3d, and
would not respond to whip or spur. The
man heard Gates calling him, and at the
same time first noticed the danger that
beset his path. Seeing the number of
the monsters and knowing it would be
useless to attept to cope with them sin
gle-handed and unarmed, he turned
about and gathered the neighbors in a
posse, armed with clubs and shotguns.
to go to the rescue of the unfortunate
Gates. This they did and engaged in a
war of determination that lasted for one
hour before Gates was released from his
cabin. Eleven dogs suffered death dur
ing the fight, and numerous others will
die from the effects Of the bites of the
snakes. After the battle was over an
inventory was taken and it was found
that al snakes were killed, some Of
them monsters, measuring over six feet
in length and having forty-three rattles
and a button. Several persons were
made faint from the peculiar odor arts
ing from the bodies of the poisonous
reptiles. Hundreds of snakes escaped
to their den in a cleft of rocks in an old
quarry near by. Huckleberry pickers
had reported that the hills ia that vicin-
ity, which are covered with bushes bear
ing this succulent berry, were overrun
with rattlesnakes to such an extent that
it was dangerous to engage in gathering
the berries.
1t was thought 10y their patrons in
town that the report was but a scheme
to keep up the price of berries, but all
are now satisfied that the snakes we've
indeed there, as numbers of good men
testify to having assisted in the battle
with them at Gates's calm, and Dr.
Howard has the skins of two of them
that he obtained TO be used as scalfs.
DR.. John Bulls Worm Destroyers
tase good and qui ky remove worms
rom children or grVn people, restor-
ng the weak and puny to robust health.
Try them. No other worm medicine is
so safe and sure. Price % cents at drug
stores, or sent by mail by John D. Park
IL Sons G o., 172 and III Sycamore St.,
Cincinnati, o.
A Million Friends.
a friend in need is a friend indeed,
and not less than one million people
have fouDd iIlC+ cucb q fr;a,,I =, n,