davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
The Fang of
A Rattlesnake in the Leg
of a New Boot.
a ReminIscence OF George W. shaw.

Back in the early sixties, when river gravel
mining was extensively followed, George w
Shaw was proprietor OF the Mountain Cottage.
a hotel, situated in Butte County, TWENTY-FIVE
miles from oroville, where OF a Sunday the
miners from the Middle Fork mines used to
congregate.
After one of these Sunday congregations"
three men left the hotel on Monday morning
to return to their work in the claim owned by
Jake Powell, on the middle fork of Feather
River. Now, one OF the men mad on new pair
ofboots, purchased from Wyatt Erton, the store
keeper, and he began to complain of sore
ankle, which was attributed to the chafng of
the boot After suffering the most agoniz-
ing pains for several hours. he died. The
cause OF his death was mystery.
few days after one of his companions ep-
propriated the new boots to his own use and
In few hours he likewise became afflicted
with such pains as none could relieve. Igno-
rant OF the cause, he was allowed to follow his
friend TO an early grave.
The apparent fact that both had died from
poison administered by that one boot led to an
investigation which solved the problem for in
the leather of the boot, just above the counter
was found the fang of rattlesnake.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
A Grass Valley
Reptile That Was Scared
by a Soft Drink.
The Experience Of Fred Campbell.

Fred Campbell OF Grass Valley was driving
delfvery-wagon for a soda-wat ter firm, and had
20 make frequent trips to the smaller towns
throughout the country. He was driving with
q companion along the road leading to
Smartsville and when near Mooney Flat they
heard rustling among the dry leaves, and
thought to see a hare or some other wild game
make an appearance. But the game was
larger than expected and of different nature
than looked for.
A huge snake with large green eyes, and
whose fangs shot in and out of an enormous
mouth, came right on them, and to make
ms tiers more serious, their horses stopped,
trembling with fear.
Neither Campbell nor his companion was
armed, and Campbell sat as still as If charmed
by the monster. But this sitting still was not
helping matters, and on the spur Of a moment
an idea struck Campbell.
He took one of the large siphon bottles of
earbonic water and shot swift stream OF the
water in one of the monsters eyes and then in
the other, the snakes head being up to the
height of the wagon seat and only about two
feet away. Campbell says it was striking
scene TO see his snakeship lower his head to
the ground and lash his tail around in the
dust, but it was only for a moment, as he
again made an attempt TO attack Campbell, and
a repetition of the same dose was enough for
the snake this time and he went SO uirming
and twisting away.
Campbell says it took half minute for the
monster TO pass given point. Being placed in
such an exciting and dangerous position one
is surprised he did not give the snake even a
greater length.
After beating a retreat Campbell says the
serpent plunged into the Yuba River and swan
away down the stream. Several of our reput-
able citizens have seen such q serpent as
Campbell describes at different times near the
same neighborhood, and further up the Yuba
River, near French Corral and Milton, snakes
of enormous size have been seen and the in
habitants have many stories to tell of the
gigantic Yuba River serpents.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
TJ4C 6ROCC saw @orE OCfERe GJ4LFoRrAH KID

He fell by the roa ds ide and prepared to bloat.
The wheel and snake wriggled yard or two
further.
After lying in a stupor of fear for few mo-
ments the boy cautiously looked for his
wounds, to see how much longer he had to
live. When his legs were barred he found the
skin whole, and with new hope he arose. He
found the snake lying among the twisted
spokes its tail as smooth rats. The vio-
lent Tipping had shaken off all the rattles and
the snake had shuffied off his mortal coil
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31

ne found another who could fill No. hat as
weH as he. rattlesnake had crawled into
the hat, and although he economized every
> lnch OF space he filed it to the very brim.
Then followed single-handed contest Tor
fthe possession of the hat. The battle was Wig
Iorous and decisive. Professor Smyth was COM
Jpietely victorious, recovering his stolen prop
erty and winning the admiration of his youth
tub spectators The snake lost his life and his
lrattles, but this modern st. George did not
seven lose his temper.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
A Night of
Horror With Three Rattle
snakes in Camp.
Told by Joe Lane of Lodi.

"If there's one thing more'n another that
Pm afraid OF it's snakes" said Joe Lane at
Lodi the other day as he whitfield vigorously.
"Once when L was going down to Tulare
along with White 1 had a mighty narrow
shave. We camped one night in the hills, and
slept in the blankets under the wagon. Along
in the morning wakened suddenly at the end
of long nightmare. 1 rose up all of sud-
den and hit my head on the reachpole, which
wakened me thoroughly. But 1 wish't I'd
stayed asleep. Right there at my feet was the
biggest snake 1 ever saw, and he was a-shak1n
his head like perdition and looking at me
square in the eye. His eyes looked like specks
of fire, and when he ratified his tail my hair
just rose up straight, and shook so my teeth
ratified as if they were loose.
81 laid my head down easy and tried to get
it under the blanket, but White had itwrapped
all around him. so just shut my eyes.
"Then heerd another awful rattle behind
and a lot of kissing and more rafting.
'spected my time had come, but the big fellow
in front of me came a-scooting right over me
like lightning across my iace-feeling
like electricity. Lordl but I was scared.
couldn't have moved for million dollars.
Then the shaking started again and was all
of cold sweat and feeling mighty sick.
"Those snakes were having fight. They
were kissing and rafting around as If there
were a dozen of them. 1 was going to wake
White and try to climb into the wagon, when
felt somethln' drop like piece OF rope on
my legs. Then it trattled-more snakes! Twas
almost scared into jumping up. but knew he
would nail me if 1 did, so I had to lay there
and try to think of a prayer and tremble and
feel hot and cold shivers running through me.
This big one crawled up toward my head
slow like, seeming like year, and then had
to look up and see his shinin eyes just above
my face. can't begin to tell you how l felt,
but was the worst scared man in America.
He didn,t nav any attention to the fight. but
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
Battle With
Rattlesnaies in an Arizona
Prairie Dog Village.
AS ToId by Joseph Allen.


N. w. Moore, the genial landlord of the
Hull House, at Tulare, has had soma ex-
periences with snakes which are startling and
thrilling. He crossed the plains TO California
in the fall of 1869, and in those days the
snakes, owls and prairie dogs owned their own
homes. In some places in New Mexico and
Arizona the snakes were so thick that it was
necessary to have man go ahead of the ira in
to clear the way and keep the rattlers from
striking the cattle
One day while in Arizona, near the present
site OF Tucson young man by the name of
Tom Wright, member of Mr.. Moore's party,
struck out ahead of the train, and almost be-
fore he knew IL he was in the very midst OF
prairie-dog village. The village contained
something like five or six acres and was
densely populated, not alone with dogs but
hundreds of owls and rattlesnakes. On look
ing up, Moore and his party saw Tom shooting
right and left and jumping about from side to
side as though bewitched, at the same time
calling loudly for help. Moore and two others,
grasping spades and clubs, made their way to
where young Wright was battling. They were
compelled TO virtually cut their way through.
To get to Wright it was necessary to kill
twenty-five rattlers before they could reach
him There were hundreds OF them on all
sides, and not until they came to the outer
edge of the prairie-dog village did they sue
ceed in getting away from the snakes. Wright
was so overcome with the fright and excite
ment that he tainted away and was very i'll tor
some days after.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
A Snake and
A PIucky Tomcat Play at
Hypnotism.
Witnessed by J. R. watson.

The rattlesnake does not inspire the terror
here that he does in other localities. Several
years ago J. R. Watson of Guerneville was
cleaning out spring on the Old Cabin Home
ranch. He was accompanied by a large TOM
cat that followed his master like dog.
The cat was making what explorations he
could in the neighborhood of a woodrats nest
when his master heard him speaking very
earnestly in low, well-modulated tones, very
different from the furious eloquence the mem
bers of his class employ when they stand on
the roof at midnight. On this occasion
TOMS" remarks were so dignifed that one
might readily believe he was lecturing class
of young kittens in the deepest mysteries OF
feline philosophy.
Mr.. Watson tiptoed his way 10 the scene of
activities, where he discovered a good-sized
rattlesnake done up in a neat coil and
his head elevated about eight inches from the
ground.
The cat was reared back on his launches
like a grizzley, and as he kept up his con-
tinuous ''Mow, m-o-o-w, me-o-o-w," he gently
boxed the rattiesnake's jaws first one side and
then the other, and all the while each was en-
ldeavoring to stare the other out of counte-
nance. The snake seemed to be taking the
insult without any idea OF resentment, but
upon the approach of the intruder the ophidian
vainly attempted to escape.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
COlusa County
Snake Stories That Need
No Affidavits.
By Editor win s. Green.

AS the Oldest inhabitant of Colusa County
am requested to contribute the snake litera-
ture OF the county. This region of the country
was never noted for snakes, and except the
blowing up OF den of rattlesnakes at place
called Stone Corral, where there were said to
be hundreds if not thousands of the reptiles,
never heard "snake story" or saw more than
a dozen snakes at time until the winter they
were building the narrow-gauge railroad across
what is known as the through" west from
Colusa, TO the Northern Railway. The river
course is on a ridge for twenty-five miles above
COlusa, and any overflow runs out to the west
for two or three miles and is met by the creeks
from the foothills. An overhowed space of
about two miles is called the trough" The
grade had been made across this trough when
there came very high water which over
flowed this space.
This was followed by a neavy north wind
that blew everything down for the full length
of the twenty and odd miles against this grade.
The ties had just been Northumberland to
the mile-and when l walked along out the
grade the snakes that had blown down among
the ties and had mostly crawled out on them,
outnumbered the ties. The Sun published
this story and its exchanges asked what kind
of whisky was used in that Office. undertook
once to tell how many snakes were on that
grade, but viii let the reader make the calcu-
lation for himself. There were no poisonous
snakes in the lot, but there were many kinds I
had never seen before, They were ground
snakes that perhaps lived on gophers, mice,
birds. bugs, ETC., they found in that country.
Talking of whisky in connection with this
story brings to mind what J. D. Adams, a
sporting man of Maxwell, said of these snakes.
There had been races in Colusa and 10 had
been in attending them and was in the habit
of smiling" as often the next man. The
cfa oil nd In in
the stage with one other man going home. He
looked and saw all those snakes and rubbed his
eyes and asked himself, "Have 1 got 'em?'
He said he had never been as uncomfortable
in his life until his companion exclaimed,
$40, just look a them snakesp'
."Snakesr' said 10. 81 don't see any snakes.
You stayed at the races too long, young man. u
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
The Snake That
Tried to Swallow a Paper
Tobacco-Box.
Related by DR.. Rider Powell.

DR.. Rider Powell who has lived on the side
of Mount Hamilton for thirty years, has pa
per tobacco-box which is a perfect image of q
frog. A few evenings since he told the follow
ing story to crowd that was sitting in front
OF Charley Rhine's store at Clayton:
"One day. said the doctor, ''when I was
working on the side of the mountain had
filed my pipe and laid the box down on a
rock while 1 struck a light and forgot to pick
the box up.
II went on with my work until my attention
was drawn to q commotion in the grass and
saw snske-a big blue racer with head up
and eyes blazing-cautiously Crawling up
toward the box, with the evident intention of
either getting chew of tobacco or swallowing
what it supposed was live frog. Finally,
after much circumlocution, the snake got
within what it considered the proper distance
for business, and suddenly darting out Its
head made grab at the frog. He struck some
thing much harder than he expected.
The snake drew its head up and watched the
box for several minutes and finally concluded
to try it again. 1t crawled slowly and care
fully toward the box until within three or four
feet, and then around it several times as
though inspecting it on all sides. After time,,
apparently satisfied that there was q good.
meal for it there, it slowly got into position
and let drive again. The force of the blow
opened the box and the tobacco few in every,
direction the box went sailing through the
air. The snake must have got its mouth or its
eyes full, for it seemed perfectly satisfied,
With hiss it erawled rapidly of through thes
grass"
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
The Kind They
Have Up at Cash Creek in
YolO County.
AS tOld by ez.senator sprague.

a have always been an enthusiastic lover of
the rife, said ex-senator Sprague at Sacra-
mento the other day, and during my hunting
\ trips through the mountains have had numer-
p) Gus encounters with rattlesnakes, some of
which were simply hair-lifting, and think
\ can safely lay claim to having killed the
largest rattler ever seen in this portion of the
State.
1t was on the headwaters of Cash Creek, in
Yolo County; my brother and were returning
to camp after an unsuccessful trip for deer,
and discovered the snake, curled up in recess
among the powders that Uttered the canyon
were passing through.
AS 1t was impossible to get a shot at the
snake, owing TO its sheltered position, / pro-
cured pole and stirred it up. After rafting
angrily for few seconds, it came out ana
threw itself into the creek, swimming handily
with its head and some six inches of its body
out of the water. We shot the snake fshed it
out OF the creek, and found that it weighed
\ "a lbs. and had 10 rattles, several having evil
~ IDENTIFY been broken off.
Another occurrence is seemingly impossible
OF belief yet ] can vouch for the truth of the
story. Once while hunting in the sink of Cash
i Creek my attention was drawn to the peculiar
actions of ground squirrel. / watched it a
minute and then shot it, Hurrying to the
spot nearly stepped upon large rattlesnake
, which had evidently been engaged in charm
ing the animal.
The snake turned at my approach and
escaped down a squirrel hole. The thought
u struck me that possibly 1 could attract the
"a snake out OF the hole by means of its intended
prey, so cut the squirrel open with my hunt
ing knife, put rough stone ir its interior to
give it weight, took piece OF twine and tied
it around the body of the squirrel to retain the
y rock, attached it to the dried limb OF a tree
y and inserted it in the hole.
The squirrel slipped out of sight. and shortly
J afterward when 1 attempted to withdraw
it, l found that my scheme had been success
full.
y The resistance of the snake was simply won
derful, and had to exert considerable strength
\ TO pull the reptile out When it came ii was
~ with jerk, and to prevent it from striking me
y in the face threw it over my head. The end
WI OF the limb snapped, and the snake few
mi through the air and lodged in thicket of
Il buckthorn brush, which it was impossible for
y me TO penetrate, and so the snake escaped.
- The following summer while hunting in the
v same vicinity L shot large rattler, and no.
ticiDg peculiar swelling in the body cut it
\ open and found in the interior the same rock
Z had placed in the body of the squirrel, which
v / identified by thread of quartz running
~ through it, the only difference being that all
~ the sharp angles were worn away, the stone
n being perfectly smooth probably from the
n effects OF food digestion during the year.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
The Property OF Jake wandell,

thirty feet. and its colors are none the less
bright from wear and tear. The disappearance
of sheep and calves and the uprooting of trees
by heavy winds have all been laid to Wandell's
snake. It's last appearance was a few months
ago. At that time some woodchoppers, in fell
ing hollow tree, nearly severed his snakeship
in two. As the ak sank through the hulk q
stream of blood spurted out. This was fol-
lowed by rattle that resembled a thunder.
storm. The men retired to safe distance to
watch proceedings. They were soon rewarded
by seeing WandelPs snake emerge from the
tree and dash off with the speed OF a railroad
train, leaving trail of blood.
Such are the stories told OF the Mount Hamil-
ton snake.
The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31
The BulISnake
That Tried to Strangle a
Upton Man.
The Experience of Tom Flnnerty.

Tom Finnerty, whose father is a well-known
and respected foreman for the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company, and'whose home is at Tip
ton, Tulare County, had an experience some
years ago with large bullsnake which
gives him an unpleasant sensation every time
his attention is called to the snake family. He
was ct that time working on large ranch near
Upton and, like most California ranchhands,
made his bed in the haymow.
One night he was awakened suddenly with
choklngi sensation. For the moment he
could not tell what the trouble was, when put
ting his hand to his throat he realized that he
was being slowly choked by large bullsnake
The snake had coiled himself twice around
his neck and was doing his best to strangle
Tom. Had it not been for the assistance of his
companions he might never have lived to tell
the story. 1t took the united strength OF two
men to release Tom from his uncanny position.
The shock and fright made such an impress
sion upon his mind that it was weeks before
he fully recovered his strength.
The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04
Senator Jones is a Candidate.
[St. Louis Republie.]

WASHINGTON, December 16.-Refer
ring to the discussion of the Senatorship
from Arkansas, which was referred to
in these dispatches last night, Senator
Jones today said to the Republic corre-
spondent that he was a candidate for
reelection.
The Senator said that he did not know
whether members of the Legislature
will be instructed this time as they were
for the election of Senator Berry, as
that rests entirely with the co; aaaittees.
Said he:
Sixty seven out of the seventy FIVE
counties in the State last year instructed
their legislators, either in their
primaries or in their county conven-
tions, as to their preference for Senator,
and this course gave great satisfaction
to the people generally, and this is
likely, in my opinion. to become the
rule in all Senatorial elections in the
State hereafter. This course meets my
most cordial approval, for the more l
see of the practical workings of our
system of government the stronger my
convictions become that it is the best to
have direct expressions from the people
themselves upon all questions of public
importance. In the unselfsh patriotism
and conservative good Judgment of the
people lie the safety and perpetuity of
our government.
The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04
Floods Play Havoc.
From st. Louis Republic Dec. 25th.

From St Louis Republic Dec. 25th.
Possibly not in the history of the
Central and Southwest States have there
been such heavy rains as in the past ten
days, and certainly the damage to
property and loss of life consequent have
never been so great.
Near Smithville, Mo-. two boys
heroically rescued thirteen persons in
danger of drowning and starvation. An
NJ. X. & 7. train was wrecked near
Rocheport and Frisco train was
wrecked at Butler, Ark In the Sac
River country William Jones, wife and
four children were washed away while
asleep in their home. Much of the low
lands along the Charlton River and its
branches are under water, and great
damage has been done to crops.
In Texas, the Indian Territory,
Illinois and Indiana heavy rains and
strong winds have played much havoc
with property.
Along the Usage. Gasconade and
Moreau Rivers many houses have been
destroyed and there will be much
suffering.
The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04
Arkansas Strawberries.

From Little Rock Gazette Dec. 3lst.
THE Gazette s. staff correspond
ent, who returned from Van Buren last
night, brings encouraging news of the
berry crop of Crawford county. The
crop not only promises to more than
duplicate that of last year, but the
plants are thriftier than is common to
TO this season of the year.
Having passed successfully through
periods of wet and drouthy weather
which threatened to choke and burn up
the plants, some apprehension was
entertained of the next year success.
This is now passed over and if nothing
calamitous follows before the opening
spring Crawford county will surpass the
world record as producer of straw
berries.
Some idea of what is now in prospect
can be inferred from the fact that
having looked the crop over carefully,
manufacturers of packages for the
transportation of strawberries are filling
warehouse of their own with the
largest stock ever gathered in the West.
1t is also seen that the railroad people
are interested and accordingly we are
to witness still better service than
supplied by them last year. AS
announced in the spring they are in
earnest about Arkansas new develop
ment, which means that the growers
themselves will not do more to make
the great strawberry success.
The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04

a TRAGIC episode signalized the
observance at Christmas near Winslow,
which may result in the death of one
of the parties concerned. Deputy u.
S. Marshal, Geo. Reed, assisted by T.
Poulton called at the house of Jack
Hatabaugh and told him that he was
under arrest. The hell you say, -
was the answer to the summons. But
the prisoner changed his tone of address
and asked the officer to wait till he got
his overcoat. While donning the coat
he drew from one of its pockets a
revolver and aimed it at Deputy
Poulton. who quickly discharged his
weapon and ball penetrated the head
of Hatabaugh an inch and half deep.
He fell, the blood flowing copiously
from the right side of his head, and the
wound is probably fatal. The arrest
was made upon the complaint charging
him with making and passing counter
felt money. His brothers. Robert anl
Melton, were also arrested and brough
to this city. where they are now confined
in Jail. But they are held only for tn,
purpose of obtaining evidence agains
Jack and others who are unde
suspicion. Fayetteville Republican.
The Van Buren press., 1896-01-04

Clothing is something that is always
needed and now that you can buy it at
prices lower than ever before you should
not fail to take advantage of it.
Southmayd- Miller Dry Goods Co. have
decided to sell their stock of Clothing at
prices regardless of cost for the next
thirty days, and they never fail to do as
they advertise.
Christmas passed off very quietly this
year and few disturbances are reported.
A crowd of boys, however, let their
exhuberance get away with their sense
of right and they caused considerable
damage to property. 1t is all very well
to have little fun ON Christmas, but
wanton destruction should not be
tolerated.