The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-07-01
THE REPTILE MEANT BUSINESS.


Lively Dodging Done by n Governors
Messenger to Escape Rather.
II never want to pass through such ap
experience again." said Executive Messen-
ger A. A. Walton to q Sacramento News
man, as be replaced the cover on the box
and set the receptacle In a drawer. ut
makes me shudder to think Of my adven.
ture."
Messenger Walton's thrilling adventure
| happened OH Governor Markham's recent
quail hunting trip in Kern county. Wal
ton accompanied the governor on his out.
| Ing The incident can be best told in tho
messengers own language;
1.-THE country over which we were hunt
ing" said he, twas slightly broken up and
| in spots covered with considerable brush.
| When we first went there we were informed
that, while quail were plentiful In the vi
cinity, the supply Of snakes was limited.
This was disappointment to me, as we
| had in our coinmissary stores goodly in
voice of snake antidote. rsnH
"For several days in our field sports we
never encountered a rattler. We weren't
| particularly anxious to find them, either
| Don't you know there is something loath-
some about crawling, Kissing snake, and
especially Is the obnoxiousness intensified
when it rattlesf
"lt was the morning prior to the day
fixed for our departure when went out Of
the cabin to collect little wood. The hour
was early. was unaccompanied by dog,
gun. or even stick. The air was inspir-
ing and was full Of melody. Whistling
Annie Rooney stopped over small
bush TO gather dead branch. As was
about to pick It up a buzzing sound in
formed me that the bush concealed rat.
tier.
with fright jumped back just as the
f1attened and wicked head of the rattler
punctured the top branches of the bush
and appeared in sight. saw in moment
that the snake was a monstrous and wick
ed reptile.
1.-The rattler was aggressive. With sur
prising alacrity 1t cleared the bush and
darted for me. | retreated quickly, with
my face to the serpent. 1t was all that
could do to keep out of the way Of the
reptile.
1T would jump nearly its full length,
then with lightning rapidity 1t would coil
up and an instant later again jump.
"The rattler pursued me for fully 100
yards before was able to make the least
defense from its onslaught, only what my
legs permitted, and, let me tell you,
moved mighty rapid too.
Finally the rattler, from its exciting
exertions, showed signs Of becoming tired.
The ground over which we were passing
contained many stones the size of your fist,
or larger.
Gas retreated, constantly keeping my
eyes on the snake, picked up stone after
stone and hurled them at the rattler. It
is remarkable what accurate sight Kern
county snake possesses. The snake for a
time, seemingly without effort, lodged the
rain of missiles which sent at its writh.
ing, squirming body.
But mans superior endurance finally
became triumphant. With well directed
aim / struck the rattler on the head and
the battle was over.
1.-THE rattler measured 8 feet 5If inches
in length. At the biggest part of its body
the snake measured l1sl inches in circum-
ference"
In the box which Messenger Walton SO
carefully put away among the archives of
the governors Office were the rattles of
the monstrous and belligerent reptile.
They numbered ffty.four and a button.