The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
WHERE RATTLESNAKES THRIVE
A Prospeetor's Talo OF . Trip Through .
Gulch In tho n adre Chain.

Talking about snakes" said grizzled old
prospector In Tucson saloon to party OF
Eastern tourists. you fellows ought to 60
down here in the Madre Mountains. near the
Mexican line. and you'd see snakes. You sec.
not very many minors and prospectors 60 In
the Madre. because there is almost nothing in
our line there. although you do hear stories
about wonderful mines. and gold and silver
piled up in stacks when the old Mexicans
abandoned the digginGs. but all the gold there
is about it is in the ears OF the man who be-
lieves such stuff Besides. if they do go they
are most eternaly glad to get out again il they
have the good luck not to be bitten by the
rattlers. Why. the average rattler in the Madre
chain Is seven or eight feet long, and there
are lots OF EN- a good deal bigger than that
Tho stupid little reptiles that 20 by the name
up In Utah and Colorado aren't in it with their
Mexican brethren when you get to talking
about snakes. l have been there. and you bet
know what am talking about
Three years ago Jack McQuade and were
prospecting together. and we got tip on the
quiet that there were some rich mas over
near ColQuiton. little Mexican town about
IT'S miles from here. SO We went, but didn't
get track OF anything worth very much. ale
though two or three fellows made their pile.
Finally. left Jack there and came back. and
I made UP my mind to come through the
Madre. The boys told me hadn't better try
1t, but did. and nm not laundering after any
more trips OF the kind. had two burros and
got along all right, and didn't see anything
extraordinary until l had gotten fairly mo
down a rasine that would let me out at the
base Of big peak which would 60 around;
d d M GHsht no Se ne @
on the, plain. and loses itself in Re sand;
fnr th.A or
e hna would anfn be all plain saing Well Was
riding along down smoking and leat tM; r 9ne
Tiers right In front. / went around them and
they ra bat 9d SHd 1ed ts hss i
they seemed. ali the rest OF the way down. to
and %%i.PIy Tth ths st Gs1nS
was wide. enough. SO that We got by EN- al
right but \ these doRks wsrSt sssT much
alive as they were then and Just as we came
S Of the sys
Gonks and s we we Vent tkrouSk Ike house afre;
At one place We shook lot Of rock loose. and
very feet OF the burros. ! needn't tell you we
didn't stop til We got outside. where there was
Before could stop the little beasts We
were almost frightened out other wits, They
through t the S% du TS as they called tic
place. unscathed. But what was the most GU.
rious thing about the whole matter was thht
the Grease.s camped right there and Gaagns
snakes and fried the oil out for the Eastern
patent medicine market. It seems there Is Is
quite demand for the oil among certain Ger am
class. Their camp was raised up on posts OUT
Of the way Of snakes. The snake" Inm, we,e
which they used to pin the rattlnrs head TO
the ground. The snake was hnlnisss, thheni
and hung the body ON n stick fastened acros;;
hnd been killed they were taken to 2 place
where Sa. the suns rays in ths r aftsrn a9h
made It hot, enough 70 roast egg;
him up on a wooden frame with pan under;
neath 70 catch the slowly drippnc oil All. a, SoSbb
about the place was something that no wo G
seem to mind il much The rock in the gulch,
was q shelving, scaly formation, that Vas iuil
sort OF mountain meadow. ending ~ marsny
slough and iul OF frogs sna yer ss subsiStsd.
The Mexicans had bonanza there. pHt Sond
want any OF 1t. went away the next uay anu
never want to gY back again