The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-11
8EanE,6n=oNs
SLEPT IN A DEN OF SNAKES.
Fearful Fate That Overlook u Newly Mar
RED Conple In Kansas.

Red Couple In Kansas.
George Higgins. a Topeka travelling
man. confirms the story briefly told in
the press dispatches of the shocking
death in Cherokee county. Kan, of Au-
gust Schrader and wife from serpents
poison. Incredible as it may seem. these
two unfortunate young people were bit
ten to death by rattlesnakes II copper
heads at a time when the thermometer
registered at nearly freezing point, and
that, too. on their wedding night.
Mr.. Higgins was one of a hunting
party. They We're III camp on Shoal
creek. not far distant from the Indian
Territory line and within gunshot of the
cabin occupied by Schrader and his
bride. Early in the evening they partici-
pated in the wedding festivities given by
the old man Schrader in honor Of the
marriage of his son.
The cabin was less than loo yards
from the Schrader domicile and had
been newly built %. the larter's farm for
the occupancy Of the young couple. 1t
consisted ofSone room. and was built of
rough logs chinked. rough pine lumber
for the foor and a roof of the same ma
terial. 1t was peculiarly constructed, in
that a perpendicular stone bluff was
made to form one end of the structure.
Against the bluff "A fireplace of the old
fashioned kind was built. the chimney
extending up it, side and towering above
the edge of the bluff. In this fireplace
the first fire was built. which warmed
the house ready for the reception of young
Schrader and his bride after the festivi-
ties at the parental home should be over.
They retired to their home at midnight,
and the few guests who had gathered to
celebrate the event dispersed.
About > o'clock the camping party was
aroused by calls for help from old man
Scnrader. The hunters responded. and
guided by mis- cries hastened to the cab
in of the young couple. where they found
them writing in the tnroes Of death
and the old man and hi wife standing
over them and crying piteoUsiy. About
the ioor and II tHn low bed VIZ" /, huge
snakes. principally 9, Pperuaias and rat
tlesnd6c.. -a.a ot wi."I had been killed
and others chilled 10 ,, I'll. The hunt
ers took in tn -,,Ht..,4 az "a glance AMI
ran back To- Their r.al lI- -1lua wais.v
which they tried ra administer 20 Z.
dying CHNEl'. Hat ia+ t.a Was 700
late. and the victim ..ri before q. ~
Ing.
Upon Investigation It appeared tA.t
the fireplace had been built III cio-c Ira--
unity 10 a sort If cavern IN the blu.f. II
which the reptiles la,i ~niDernatei for the
winter. The roaring fire had warmr.
the serpent. into life. and they wee
driven out into the cabin by the intense
heat. Young >eErader was able before
he died to explain THAT he and his bridt
had been aroused from their slumber by
the frightful moaning Of a house dog,
winch was Sleeping ar their feet and
which. too. Wa, bitten 10 death. Follow
ing this Schrader heard a kissing and
rafting sound. and l-aping out of bed 10
ascertain the cause his bare feet lighted
upon the cold and wTitLiug body of "a
serpeHt.
Next he fr.t himself tEng, and by the
light of the diving eIubers i'll the fire
place he saw Sc -.s.Iaer Of reptiles crawl
ing aboat the floor or cOiled in tine atti-
tude of striking. He was stung again
and again, and his cries arousing his
wife, she, too. jumpe. from her bed,
only 10 meet her husbands fate. Then
they ran Tor the loon and cried for help,
ana III a very short time old man Schra.
der appeared. The open door, however,
rendered human aid unnecessary, az the
cold draft quickly chilled the room, and
the reptiles became torpid and were east.
ly Observation-Disclosures Bee.