The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-25
A SNAKE UNDER HIS SHIRT.
An Unpleasant Feature of Sleeping
Out of Doors.
New York Sun.


New York Sun
ut was IN san Juan county, in Colo
RADIO In 1876. that 1 had an experience that
few men would be likely to forget in life
time said J. u. Lantry last night In the
Office of an uptown hotel much frcquented
by western men. "A party OF five of us
mad gone in there 70 prospect ahead oil the
rush that we knew would come next yenr.
IL was one night toward the end of Sep
| TENDER that We were IN camp in the open
air. every man lying rolled up IN his blank
cts. for the nights were getting cold and
frosty. Mkt to me was II man named Ad-
ans. from Illinois originally. l believe.
About the middle of the night he nwoke
me by calling my name.
What's the matter. Bill?' / asked.
He answered me In most peculiar tone
lit was as If he were trying to speak with
out breathing or moving n muscle of his
body.
For Gods sake help me, Lantry. he
said There's snake crawling up under
my shirt
81 came up on my elbow and looked at
Adams. The moon was shining brightly, SO
that ! could see everything almost as Wen
as II IL had been daylight Adams was
lying on his back as stii as stone. ana
his face was like the face of corpse. lie
had taken his boots of before turning in,
and his stockinged feet struck om below the
bottom of his blankets, Alongside ono III
them. passing inside his trousers leg, was
the last twelve inches Of rattlesnhhe-h
big one--curling to and fro. like the end
Of whip. as it went up out OF sight.
For Gods sake hurry SAID Adainb
His heads on my chest now, and ne COM
ing higher all the time. Cut my clothes OH
me. and don't waste time,
keep STILL Adams, and don't wake the
camp / cautioned him. II there gets 10
be a, racket around 1t VIII start the snake
up He won't get hostile If he Is let aiohe'
Now he's quiet. and let me work
at was an easy matter to pull the blank
ets off Adams. That left him lying IN
shirt and trousers. with the snake next MS
skin Then | set to work TO cut away MS
clothes. or course. before ! began To-
Gated tho snake. but that was an easy
thing 10 do, for under the clothes the rep
tic felt as big as a barrel. My hunting
knife was as keen as razor. ] began at
the trousers log ripping 1t UP at the side.
working from the bottom UP. Adams was
standing tho racket we'll. all things con-
sidered. He lay there not moving mus
Gle, scarcely venturing to breathe. with
that heavy, cold reptile on his chest and
It's head at his throat. But IN that still
tone that he had used Understanding
as II a dead man were talking-he would
say, now and again: Hurry up! for Gods
sake. hurry
"Up round the neck. where the pand
WAS tight. II was ticltlish business to cut
the shirt loose without cutting Bll--and
then again realized that was working
with my hand mighty near rattlesnakes
head. hut got tho shirt cut clear from
top TO bottom. Then went round to the
other side OF Adams.
"'Now Bill. said. and pulled shirt ana
trousers leg over to me. leaving Adams'
body bare, with the snake In full view.
The reptIlc was a big dark -cOlored noun
tain snake. fully five feet long. As II lay
In something OF an S shape it's tail was at
Adams knee while It's head rested In the
hollow Of HIS throat
at sight Of me the snake drew back It's
head and went half into coil on Adams'
stomach. Then. seeing that did not move
or offer TO attack II. the snake turned and
crawled off from Adams and made for the
shelter OF a nlant half dozen steps away
IAN right, Bin he's gone ! said.
ut was like touchine a spring. j be-
Iievc that when Adams came uD from the
ground he went four feet straight Into the
air. and tho yell he fetched made The BOYS
think. as they woke, that the Utes were
upon us The slsht OF half-naked man.
Jumping and yelling. without there seem
ing any cause for II. WAS rather startling
as n was hut Adams dnieted down In a |
minute or two. about the time hah mat
tiers EXPLAINED. TWO of va went out and |
killed the snake-his rafting gave him
away--and the rest helped Adams get his |
clothes patched together to do TIL morn
ing"
Not All MiiIionaires.
Chtco arorA