Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-01-31
HELD UP BY SNAKES.
AN ARMY ENGINEERS EXCITING NIGHT
IN THE NORTHWEST.


"We reached the Wolf mountain, in
the Big Horn country, one day in Sep.
tember," said II. P. Tuttle, formerly an
army engineer, while to the south were
dimly visible the outlines Of the Rattle
snake mountains. These names were
given to these mountains by both the
Grow and Sioux Indians, who regarded
them with horror Late ON the afternoon
Of our first day In these mountains
sent all Of my party to camp, about two
miles to the southwest. Going forward
with my transit to where I had sent my
head flagman, Iplaced it in position and
told him he could return to camp, as I
had to remain in order to make an as.
Economical observation early in the even
ing. ~
"Taking off his belt, which held d
huge revolver and sheath knife about
foot In length, he handed it to me,
saying that I might need It after dark,
as he had just seen a small pack Of
wolves ahead. After he had gone look
cd over the ground about me and saw
that was on a fiat topped hill covered
with large bowlders and small stones,
but entirely destitute Of vegetation
Seating myself beside big bowlder,
took out my notebook and began writing
up my notes for the day, when darkness
suddenly reminded me that it was about
time to mako my astronomical observa.
ksnna Whia xua onl akn IaJ
Off at brisk walk toward our camp.
II had not gone over hundred yards
when saw, few feet ahead Of me, a
long, black object lying directly in nv
path. wanted walking stick badly,
and was STOPPING down 10 pick it up
when I noticed the end Of it farthest
from me was white. Taking match
from my pocket and tearing leaf from
tho back Of my notebook, l soon had
the desired light, and what was my hor.
ror to see that the supposed stick was
nothing but one of the deadly green rat
tlesnakes, completely paralyzed by the
chilly night air.
Another light showed that the white
objeot,wa the snakes rattles So old
was he that his rattles had turned white.
Holding my revolver within foot Of
his head, fired and blew it entirely off.
But now came another surprise, which
for moment made me tremble. The re.
port Of my revolver had awakened doz
ems Of rattlers who had sought shelter
under tho loose rocks before sunset. The
sounds came from all directions, and
some seemed close to my feet.
'To one who has been in the forest
and heard the noise made by hundred!
Of loousts he can readily realize my stu
alton, for the buzz Of rattlesnake il
exactly like the buzz Of locust Tht
only thing now for me to do was to stant
in my tracks all night or make my way
back to the bowlder from which start
cd, but there was difficulty, for in tn,
excitement had forgotten tho direction
But where there is will there Is {
way, and by STOPPING low down ant
scanning the horizon soon detected tn,
outline OF my transit against the sky
and cutting off the rattles was soon be
side tho bowlder and filled with excite
ment enough for one night.
"Sitting down by the bowlder, mad
up my mind to pass the night at tina
spot and was soon sleeping rs soundl,
al one can in the open air, with only
canvas coat and tho mercury below freez
ing About midnight was suddenl,
aroused by something trying to pull Of
the shoe from my left foot. In an instan
/ caught the glaring eyes and outline o
awolf. He had given up his grip as h
saw mo move, and mechanically seize,
my revolver, which had left lying il
my lap, and fired as best could witt
my half frozen hand.
"a loud yell showed that he had beef
struck, and Immediately dozen O
moro wolves who had been close by so
up bowling, which In the still nigh
air could have been heard for mile
around. For an hour or two all wa
quiet, when solitary howl few yard
from mo was answered by dozen 9th
ers not 100 yards away. 1t was too darl
to see an animal Of the size of vol
more than 30 feet away; but, trusting t.
luck, took the direction of the pack o
near as possible and sent three shots q
them as,rapidly as could fire.
"a couple Of yells showed two ha,
been hit, most probably by glanoing bul
let's. Soon after this the bowling Of tn
wolves ceased, and for awhile all wa
quiet again.
"As soon as il was light enough
picked up the string of rattles which
had secured the night before and foun
there were 10, and Us the button wa
missing he may have had several more
A few rods from my transit lay tn
cleanly picked bones Of wolf which on
Of my random shots had killed durin
tho night. and ON which the coyotes ha
made substantial meal, but, not salts
fed with this, they had devoured tn
big rattler I had killed, head and all.
Returning to camp, ordered one o
my men to cut ten small poles, not les
than eight feet in length. and to wax
me up at 10 O'Clock. At that hour W
all started for the place where l ha,
passed the night Here we found, as
had expected, the warm rays of tho SUI
had brought out the snakes from thei
hiding places to bask in the sunhsine.
I'VE were greeted with defiance no
unlike that Of thousand July locusts
and tho work Of destruction began II