The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-09-11
A FAHaED BED FELLOW.
Notwithstanding Experience Of Pro
fsssor Charles Rice.

IooDo8 C0erIe3 8lCe.
The Calavsras { Cal. } Chronicle in
ito last issue tells this terrible story
Prof. Charles Rice, the botanist,
had q thrilling experience with al
monster rattlesnake one day last
week. and it was only his GOODNESS
and presence of mind that saved
him from death. Prof. Rice in
company with Dr.. lyman, the bug
ologist, were up in the higher alti-
tudes of the Sierras in search of
rare specimens and were camped at
q place called Moore Greek. They
had a small tent with them in which
they bad set up near stream OF
water that was fed by spring higher
up on the side of the mountain.
Friday evening of last week the
professor and his companion who
were completely worn out with their
days tramp in search of rare flowers
and bugs, retired to their tent,
rolled themselves up in their blank.
cts and were soon in dreamland.
just as daylight was breaking the
professor was awakened from his
slumbers by feeling a soft and
clammy substance crawling over
his face and down on to his chest,
and on raising his head little to
his horror be discovered it was q
monster rattlesnake. The reptile
had coiled itself with it's head raised
about foot, and ready at the least
movement made to sink it's poison
Gus fangs deep into the quivering
flesh.
Cold drops of perspiration oozed
from every pore, of the professors
body, while his muscles became as
rigid as bars of iron, and his eyes
became fixed with a stony glare as
he gazed at the head of the monster,
which was about six or seven inches
from his face and swinging from
one side to the other with the regu-
larity of a clock pendulum. The
suspense was becoming unbearable,
but still he knew that the least move
that he made meant death in the
most horrible form. How long be
remained in this terrible position
he does not know. but it seemed
ages, when suddenly he felt his
muscles relax, his vision grow dim,
everything around him became
dark and in few seconds he was
oblivious to everything around him.
The doctor was quietly sleeping a
few feet away unconscious of the
terrible danger of his companion.
When he awoke the sun was brightly
streaming into the tent, and as he
rolled over in his blankets toward
bis companion his blood seemed
to chill in his veins at the sight
presented to his view. His COM
panion was stretched at full length
upon the ground, with his eyes
closed and his face as white as a
piece of marble, while coiled upon
his breast was huge rattlesnake
apparently asleep.
He quietly seized a shotgun that
was standing near by, and cooking
both barrels raised it 10 his shout
der and was about to fire when he
realized that if he did he would
probably injure his companion.
Just at this moment bis companion
moved a little, when the snake gave
a rattle and again raised his head.
The doctor seeing his chance fired,
and at the report of the gun his
companion gave a yell and jumped
to his feet, throwing the reptile some
three or four feet away from him in
its death struggle. The doctors
aim was true, for the reptiles head
was blown completely of. On being
measured it was found to be four
feet nine and half inches in length
and had seventeen rattles and a but
ton. The professors nerves were sc
shattered by his terrible experiences
that he was hardly able to walk anc
the following day, in company Will
his companion, he returned to thi.
place, where he is at present, recu
perating under the doctors care.