The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-14
.HERFATHER'S PROPOSAL

bio Of producing undcr favorable con,
ditions. Though containing but six OF
eight acres, RattlOsaako Island forms
the scene of quito IN intereating episode
along this line. Tho island lies nbou,
two miles to tho northeast OF Putin.
Bay. Its surface, broken by outcrop.
ing beds OF limestone, is partially GOV.
cred with forest fringes and clamps oi
red cedar and its shores arc rocky an d
preciptious. In shape it IS elongated,
with a hump in the middle, and two
inlots--mere dots--at tho tail end
known as "tho rattlos." Viewed
from distance q lively Imagination
may readily solve this dark, conchant
body OF lanh outlined against
tho turquoise blue OF Eric into a
gigantic rattleanake, with head erect
and rattles in working order, coiled for
action. From Its peculiar formation
tho island is generally supposed to have
derived ita namo, though some assert
that tho appellation was bestowed In
consequence OF the illimilable quaint.
ties OF tho Iattle.tailed species which
rendczvouscd in and among the creyised
and governed, rocks. From these fast
nesses they wero wont to wigyle forth
into aggressive prominence. kissing and
clicking their spite and whipping the
earth and surrounding vegetation until
everything looked blue. Many "vets"
were numbered among these rcptilian
inhabitants, regular old sockers, with
whole strings OF rattles. So thick were
they-itis avowed-thata man couldn't
walk without treading upon three or
four OF the varmints at every atop-this
in tho halcyon days OF yorc. At n lator
date the enterprising community OF
snakes here represented materially les.
sened in numbers, until but compare
lively few remain TO adore the spot
named in their honor.
An able accessory in the dispersion
OF this reptile host was undoubtedly
vested in the Drawn and muscle OF old
Hank Hammond, who, with his family,
located on the island. "Old Hank"
wasn't afraid OF rattlesnakes, evidently,
and prided himself, maniiestly, upon
owning and occupying with his house.
hold goods whole island, which il not
very big was ut least lar enough re-
moved from adjacent isles to afford am.
pic seclusion. So at least he imagined
and so in reality it might have proven
but for the single obtrusive fact that
the old codger was possessed Of several
comely daughters, and since love
laughs at locksmiths," scales heights in
accessible, traverscs distances immeas-
,urablo and achieves impossibilities of
all sorts, this blind but ever active imp
was not long in finding his way to Rat
tlesnake Island. Sadie, the Oldest, vas
an attractive maiden OF twenty years,
with eyes that matched the color OF sea
and sky and hair fluff OF golden brown.
She was 1.-THE and active, free and fear
less, and revealing i'll adventure to on
the water like a duck! She was an ex-
pert at fishing and iowling, could manip-
ulatc pair OF oars with admirable
skill. and with light skiif was accus-
toned 10 cross frequently, sometimes
alone, the two-mile stretch OF water
which interviewed between RattleSnake
and Put-in-Bay.
at the latter place she speedily be-
came The attraction of youthful fish
erman. who inadvertently crossed her
path-ono Tom Taylor. After this de-
velopment there was no more peace for
Rattlcsnake. From time to time its
vicinity was haunted by spectral sail
which circlcd- about the island, edging
nearer and nearer at each cruise; until
one day it lay boached close by the
"grout" house OF Hank Hammond. At
beck OF the little winged god Tom
Taylor and his boat had followed the
charmer to her rocky retreat. This
being his first experience in .courtship,
however, Tom proved Bit fresh, and
his bashtulness was eXcruciating. His
feeble advances were regarded with mp
parent disfavor, tho coy maiden turning
a deaf ear to his opportunities, until in
blank despair no sh ook the dust OF Rat.
tlesnako from his feet. The spectral
sail retrcated over the water. returning
no more that season to haunt the mir
rored caves OF the little lone isle. Tom
Taylor "darned" and "gol-darned" his
luck and the girl and wished himself
and her in-well, in cline made too
warm for health and comfort. Having
thus abandoned schemes matrimonial,
he returned to his work OF inveighing
into nets OF tarred Irvine the unsuspect-
ing "fnnys," an occupation with which
no was much moro familiar than that
OF love.mnking.
One early spring day. some months
following tho collapse OF Toms love
affair, a terrific sQuall, ouch as some
times swoop down upon the islands un.
announced, struck Put-in.Bay with a
force that wrenched limbs from trees
and sent tho troublous seas sporting IL p
tho rocks in binding shows. Looking
from her window an old woman who
occupied n cottage on East Point
thought she espied small boat fur out
on the lake driving eastward before the
gale. From shelf she snatchcd pair
OF field glasses, through which shc took
q second observation. Yes. the boat
WIS evidently drifting at the mercy OF
the wind and current. Not an oar was
in motion. Only u single occupant
could BIO discerned, and that female.
With breathless haste the old woman
rushed along the shore to little cave,
where, among the trees, stood fish
shanty. Within an angle OF the l.
shaped dock several boats lay moorod,
and two fishermen, dressed in yellow
oilers and sou'wcsters, were coal.tar-
ring Irvine over smoking kettle on
tho shore. Ono lof these individually
proved to be our friend Tom Taylor.
Tom took the field glasses profTered by
tho scared old lady and through them
examined the drifting boat.
Blast my buttons is it amt wo-
mani" no exclaimed. With two OF
thrco long strides he reached tho dock
and began christening n boat.
"What you soln' to ,do?" demanded