The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-06
~RATTLESNAKE POINT.
Whore Two Fishermen Fad = Battle With
SwarMs of Eeptileg.

tUAOIO wv EIhIl0Fl0CH I'M q bACLkc VsAtIl
Swarms of Reptiles.
SHANNON, ILL.,, Dec. 23.-An extraordinary
adventure with rattlesnakes happened near
here some time ago, IN Carroll creek, that
was peculiarly thrilling. John Kinney, DO
seph Ferrin, Rezen Evarts and several other
we'll known residents Of the county were
fishing along this creek, which flows west
ward through the northern part Of this
Carroll county and empties into the Mis-
sissippi river. The banks Of the creek are
have always been the terror Of
hunters and travellers III account Of
the many nom snakes OF
this species that have inhab-
tied them. At the time Of this strange in
cldent the parties mentioned were busily
engaged in hauling members of the hnny
tribe on shore and had not the slightest APP
urehension whatever of being disturbed.
10 their right and left and in front the
stream was quite deep and made a short,
sharp curve, while to their backs was an al
most perpendicular lodge of rocks partially
tended 80 far across the littio PENN
Hula Rs to form a complete fence. The
only way to get out was to climb the rocks
and return the same way they went in. The
fish seemed ~uncommonly anxious for the
bait and tho luck Of this party had become
PARLIAMENTARY WAiO a VI u ESASCLA IA lb-
tention of the fishermen was arrested by a
queer buzzing noise at this edge of the
bushes. only about twenty feet distant
from tho water. That's q rattlssnake."
shouted Kinney, WHO was an experienced
backwoodsman. and whose ear at once de-
tected from tho noise the nature of the in
truder. Let's kill that pesky RATHER"
spoke up another one of the party, fur I
wuz bit wunce by ono O. them s%arpents,
and I never miss a chance to take their
soalps whenever / can" and tic; suit his
actions to his words he picked up a small
sized club and advanced TOWARD the bushes.
expecting 20 dispatch the snrke easily. But
he had hardly got three ateps when the
whole party we're almost petrifed with
horror. for there burst from the thicket
Ruoh a buzz and roar Of rattles as to make
their hair stand quite on end at the slim
BternRtion the snakes gathered en- masse
and in line. and began to advance toward
the fishermen, carrying their heads high,
apparently determined to drive their com
mon enemies from the field or sting them
to death, and thus exterminate them.
The men grew frantic, and some pro-
posed to swim the creek and let the snakes
have u%ndisputsd possession, but the more
cool headed insisted on giving the snakes
battle; so with clubs, stones and fishing
poles they began the attack. Iha snakes
showed such q hidsous array Of angry
NGuaS, open H0utus AHu IOTKgQ tongues
that IL was almost impossible to hit any IL
Of them separately, 80 the fishermen
dubbed them in - mass, and as stroke fol-
lowed stroke it sounded like the beating on
AZ many pieces of wood. One very large
rnttler in the center of the line seemed to
aot as the lender, ana he fought with u
venom and ferceness that would, 1T there
are any heroes among the serpent tribe,
certainly entitle him to rank as n cham
rion. In his fury to bite he threw himself
in advance Of the rest and struck right and
left, causing the mon to scatter, hut he WAS
ut length dispatched, and then tho others
lost courage and n panic began among
them. Along their path OF flight back to
their dsns in the rocks it soon became ono
limo OF slaughter, and not more than one
third of them escaped. When all danger
was over and the live ones had disAp.
paared ii was found by actual count that
193 rattlesnakes had been killed. II few be,
ing quite large, while not n single individ-
ual of tho party of fishermen WAS bitten,
though several had marvellous escapes. The
place where thls occurred has ever since
been known AZ Rnttlepnske point,