The age-herald., 1897-10-24
CHARMED BY A RATTLESNAKE.
Sank Into Unconsciousness While the Serpent
 Was Coed on His Breast.
From the calaveras Chronicle

From the Calaveras Chronicle.
 Prof. Charles Rice, the botanist, had q thrilling experience with a monster rai.- tlesnake one day last week, and it was only h.s coolness and 1,prese1ce of mind that saved him from death. Prof. Rice and Dr. Tynan, the bugologist, were up in the higher attitudes of the sierrss in search of rare specimens, q. and were camped at a plaos called Moore Creek. They had a small cent with them, which they had pitched near stream of water that was fed by a spring higher up on the side of the moultain. -
 Friday evening of last week the pro- lessor and his comp anfonJ who were com pletely worn out with their days tramp in search of rare flowers and bugs, re- tired to their tent, rollel themselves up in their blankets, and were soon in dreamland. Just as daylight was break ing the professor was awakened from his slumbe1S by feeling a soft and clam my substance crawling oV;r his face and down on his chest, and on raising his head a little to his horror he discovered ii was a monster rattleEnake. The rep tile had col1ed .rself, with it's head rais- ed about foot, and ready at thu. least movement to strike.
 Cold drops of precipitation oozed from every pore of the professors body, wtble his muscles became as rigid as bars of iron, and his eyes hscame fixed with o stony glare as he gazed at the head of the monster, which was about six or seven inches from his face and swing ing from one side to the other w.fn the regularity of a clock pendulum. The suspense was becoming unbearable, but still he knew that the least move that he made meant deaI.h in the most hor- rible form. How long he remained in this terrible position he does not know but it seemed ages, when suddenly ne felt his muscles relax, his vision grew dim, everything around him became dark and in a few seconds he was obvious to everything around him. The doctor was quietly sleeping a few feet away. unconscious of the terrible danger of his companion. When lns awoke [ he sun was brightly strea ming into the tent, and as he rolled over in his blanket to- ward his companion his blood seemed to chill in his veins at the sight presented to his view. His coCnpanoin was stretch, d eis full 1engthI upon the ground, with his eyes closed and his face as white as a piece of marble, while coiled upon hls breast was a huge rat ttlesnake, appa- rently asleep.
 He quietly seized shot gun that was standing nearby, and, cooking beth bar rels, raised it to his shoulder and was about to fire, when he realized that if he did so the would probably injure his companion. Just ait this moment his com panion moved lfttfa, when the snake gave rattle and raised its head. The doctor, seeing his chance, fired, and at the repon. 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 off
 On being measured 1t was found to be feet 9h inches dn length and had seventeen rattles and a buttone The pro- fessor's nerves were so shattered by his terrible experience that be was hardly able ito walk, and fshe following day, in company with his companion.she he return ed to this place where he Is at present recuperating under the doctors care.