Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-12
A FULL DAY.
A Hunters Tale Of the Most Ex-
citing Day Of His Life.
Peculiar Encounter with Rather Too
Much brandy and Supposed BAND
Of indiana Strange Power Of
the Imagination.

Much brandy and Supposed band
Of Indians - Strange Power Of
the Imagination.
Iwant to try to show, by this paper
how hunter can have an interesting
and exciting day without killing game
or even getting shot-that is,if he is
in rattlesnake country.
1t was some years before the war,
when game Of every kind could DO
found near almost all Of our military
posts in New Mexico, and At this par
ticular time l could, from the front
door Of my quarters Of the old post up
against the bluffs ut Fort Union, see at
one time nearly any and every day sew
eral hundred antelope on the plain be-
tween the post and Turkey mountain,
five OF six miles to the east There
were no locomotives, cars, telegraph
wires nor poles then to frighten them
away or make them wild.
Turkey mountain runs north and
south, or nearly SO, and seems to have
been pushed up from below by some
gigantic force. five or six hundred feet
lat the highest point above the general
level Of the plain on all sides Of 1t 1t
is about twelve or fifteen miles long
and perhaps six miles across from base
to base. 1t is very rocky and uneven,
and is or was thickly wooded general
Nv with pipe) from the northern end to
within two or three miles Of the south
ern end, where the trees disappear or
never grew, and at which point there
is plainly marked crater Of an extinct
volcano My route from the post was
direct to this crater, and, OF course, 10
the extreme southern end Of the noun
tain.
For many miles saw no antelope or
any other living thing in the shape OF
man or beast. This was so remarkable
for that section Of country at that time,
felt certain some unusual thing had
frightened the antelope away.
In the afternoon, when we'll abreast
Of the northern end Of Turkey noun
tain, but some miles to the east OF 1t,
and about fifteen miles from the post,
saw quite large herd Of antelope
quietly grazing, and, as the cover and
wind were all in my favor, my hopes
were high for game.
| approached to within sixty yards OF
the herd, and was well covered by lit
tie hill or ridge, and felt almost certain
that in five minutes would have an
antelope to take back to the post
dismounted quickly laid my rifle
on the ground, unfastened the lar.at
from Its place just behind the saddle,
took the picket pin in my hand 1.-THE
other end Of the lariat was around the
horses neck, and then found stone
to drive 1t into the ground. After about
the third stroke with the stone felt a
sharp sting on the back OF my left
hand, and at the same moment heard
the rattle Of snake, and saw within q
few inches of my hand the last half oil
large and horrid looking rattlesnake
Just about to disappear in hole in the
ground. His tail was in the air for
SECOND, and his rattles seemed to wave
as u flag in triumph as much as to say
,, "Ah, have got you this time!' hac
made it rule to kill, either by shoot
ing or with stones or sticks, every rat
tlesnake saw. Butthis time though
the boot was on the other leg"
l Immediately examined my hand
and sure enough there were two pune
lures, just the distance apart to CORE
spond to the fangs Of snake. ! was o
course frightened almost out OF my
j wits, and my case looked very serioul
:. indeed was twelve or fifteen mile
! from the doctor at the post, and knew
I that very rapid ride would cause thu
i blood to circulate faster and send thu
poison through the veins all the quick
4 or, and, on the other hSnd, II ! rod
slow, theloss Of time would bring abou
the same results All these things an
many more passed through my mind ii
! the few minutes occupied in pullinI
J, the picket pin out of the ground an
y putting the lariat back in its place
Shooting at the antelope don't thin
entered my head was in great doub
how best to proceed but finally acte
on the rule laid down for old-fashione
whist players-i. e., when in doub
play a trump" took drink, and
big one
put the flask back in the saddl
bags, picked up my rifle, and mounte
at once, and in u few moments was g
. ing at a gallop toward the post an
! watching all the time for the swellin
to begin in my snake-bitten hand, ant
to my CONSERVATION, | thought | coul
!. see it was getting larger. also bega
to feel very warm, which was to IN
! mind evidence that the poison was d.
= ing It's deadly work. then pulled u
i. ind took the walk, and finally halle
long enough to take another drinl
= knowing that If l could get thorough
under the influence Of the brand
n there would be chance for me. Tn
Y time | took "whopper."
N N After this rode quietly along for
NJ short time and tried to cool down, an
IS made desperate efforts to be aphi
ID o. osopher, and die, II had to, like ma
loo and a soldier. But soon found cou
not play that role worth cent d
not want to be q philosopher and d
not want to die. did not like the Id
u at all Of being found on the prairie
H.