The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-25
REPTTLES IN 4 BR D4L CHAMBER.
norrib Fate OF Kausan and His
f. .e OH Their Wedding Sight

George Higgins. Topeka travelling man,
confirms the story briefly tod in the press
dispatches last week of the shocking
death In Cherokee county OF August Schra-
der and wife by serpents poison, says
a Topeka, Kansas, special 20 the ~ asniug-
ton Star. Incredible as 1t may seem these
two unfortunate yOuns people were blttcn
10 death by rattlesnaKes ana coppernedds
a, d time when the thermometer register
ed al nearly freeAlnS point and that. too,
On their wedding nls..t.
Mr. Higgins was one of a party OF hun
tors, consisting besides himself OF eX-Post-
master a. vi. Mcpherson, eX-Sher,n
James &. BabD, ". Il. Sapp and ". r.
Stice. ali OF GaleAa. Kansas They We're
in camp on ShOai creek, not far distant
from the indian territory line ana within
gun shot OF the cabin occupied by Schra-
der and his bride. aad iI tac carry -,,A-
ms participated in the festivities given
by old man Scarader in h0uOr OF the
marriage OF his sOH. The cabin was Tess
than lyO yards from the dOmicile Of old
man Schrader, and had been newly Duut
on the iatters tarm for the occupancy
of the young couple. IL consisted Of
one room and vas built of rough logs,
chincNed. rough pine lumber for the h0Or
aud a roof OF the same material IL was
peculiarly constructed, In that a perpcn-
dicular stone bluff was made 10 form one
end OF the structure. Against this Diuf
d fireplace OF the OId-fashiOned kind was
built, the chimney extending up its side
and towering above the edge OF the biu't
In this fireplace, the FIRST fire was built
which warmed the house ready Tor the
reception OF young Schrader and his bride
fauf fHyI hon
should be over.
They retired to their home at midnight
! and the few guests who had gathered to
celebrate the event dispersed.
Hardly had the camping party retired
To their tent when, about o'clock, they
we're aroused by calls for help from old
/ man Schrader They responded, and, guild
ed by the cries, FASTENED 20 the cabin OF
the young couple, where they found them
Wrlthing In the throes OF death, and the
old man and his wife standing over them
and crying piteously. About the hoOr and
on the low bed were seventeen huge
snakes OF all species. principally copper
heads and rattiesnakes, some OF which
had been killed and others chilled TO
death.
The hunters took in the situation at a
glance and ran back TO their tent for some
whisky, which they tried 10 administer 10
che dying couple, but the remedy was too
late and the victims died before morning.
Upon investigation ii appeared that the
fireplace had been built in close proximity
TO a sort of cavern In the bluff IN which
the reptiles had hbernated for the win
ter. The roaring fire had warmed the
serpents into life and they were driven
out into the cabin by intense heat Young
Schrader was able before he died 10 eX-
plain that he and his bride had been
aroused from their siumber 10y the fright
eued moaning Of a house dog sleeping at
their feet. and which. too, was bitten TO
death. Following this, Schrader heard a
Kissing and rafting sound and, ieaping
out of the bed TO ascertain the cause, MS
bare feet lighted upon the cold and with
ing body OF a serpent. Next he felt him
self stung, and by the light Of the dying
embers in the fireplace he saw number
Of reptiles crawling about the floor or
coned in the attitude OF striking. lie was
stung again and again, and his cries
arouslng his wife, she. too, jumped from
her bed only 10 meet her husbands fate.
Then they ran for the door and cried for
help, and in a very short time old man
Schrader appeared. The open door, now
ever, rendered human aid unnecessary,