Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A GOOD SNAKE STORY FROM THE
OLD ROCK.
Two Heroes md n Learned Dts-
courrc on snnkeo1oEy-The Amnse-
nrcnts and the Arrfvnls-Thc "hi'c
suIphur-Cottngc Life.


Julv 17-(special)-Musica and mirth reign
supreme at the Rockbridse Alum row
and life Is one round or pleasure from
nornlnr until night with each in
coming train the company here Is IN
creased. and as 10 one is thinking OF
leaving yc.. and the cry is still they
come" the prospects are that every
available room will be occupied BY the
middle Of August. Every one Is COM
Portable, and VIII be made So even
though the hotels are tested to their
utmost capacity. as there are ample facil-
tiles for handling the crowd. as the man
agement, early in the season, expected
the rush. and provided for it.
The states represented IN the gay
throng here now are Virginia, West Viz
! e,ria. Maryland. North CaT1..la, SoA.h
Carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama
Mississippi Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee
Ohio. Kentucky, Arkansas. Illinois
PENNSYLVANIA. and New York.
II one wishes 70 see a smile play over
the faces OF the guests at the Rockorlcge
! Alum and see all eyes turn in the HlIec
! ton Of the resident physician ne mas
! only to mention Snakes inc cause VI
| this merrimeut Is q Lite incident tha'
| happened this week, Ia which the lhree
| moet CONSPICUOUS figures were Rich
monders. / Is known that the most IN
! frequentcd parts OF tho mountains III
! tlfs section abound I'm rattlesnakes, ano
more than one Of the dangerous requires
| have been killed this season by those
| who ventured in the wild underground
of the nearby mountains. Rattlesnake
hunting Is a most exciting sport, as the
| chances are by long odds against the
hunter. the reptile often striking before
he IS seen. The few who have had the
daring to go in search OF the deadly
| RATHER. and have been fortunate enough
TO return with one, dangling imp ana
| lifelcss from the end OF STICK, nave
been the heroes Of the hour. The rattler
IS not such a formidable-looking reptile
as may be supposed. and few of them
measure over three feet in length but
the kick of a mule is far less dangerous.
Mr.. Stanhope LIBBY and the writer
would not be called the bravest men on
| the place when a rattleSAake hunt Is
| mentioned.
| A few DAYS ago these gentlemen. who
! both believe that che who fights and runs
/ away may live to fight another day
| went out for a stroll, and when they had
!
| one suggested that a few blackberries
would be very palatable. SO the two
| left the beaten path. and struck across
| the country until they reached point
| where nature seemed 10 run wild. Here
they found plenty of blackberry bushes,
and were Just beginning 10 get their
hands nicely stained. when LIBBY,
making a backward spring that he could
not do again 10 save his life, shouted;
| Great Scott there's n rattlesnake." The
writer without wasting any time In
comments, Immediately took to his heels
GOT A RAIL
Finding he was not being pursued, he
stopped to catch his breath, and turning
around and assuming brave air. he
found his voice and enquired, where
Libby, who had remained as II glued 20
the spot. with shaking limbs, designate Fl
the place and asked FOR stick. This
weapon the writer endeavored 10 find,
| bat In vain. There was a rail fence
nearby, however. and one Of the heavy
timbers was made TO answer the purpose.
| 1t was given into the hands OF
| Libby. Tho latter now looked murder
Gus. He elevated the big rail. and let II
come down with n terrible thud The
rail was a rotten one and broke In half
n dozen pieces Both snake hunters
| fed. Regaining courage, they returned
| 20 the spot and saw the biggest reptile
| either had ever seen outside Of side
show at circus. ITS a bOaconstric-
tor" said Libby. IN an awed tone. mo,
it's a RATHER" said the other. land the
biggest one OF tine season" The big
snake was dragged out and both men.
i'm an excited manner. locked for the
rattles. which were TO make them the
oh "a al
ghany mountains. \ rattlesnake nearly
six feet long surely had never been
seen before. An examination show cd
that there were no rattes ca the end
OF the reptiles tail. but a long bory
substance which ended IN ~ point a1
sharp as a needle. Both men were dis
gusted. and neither said a word Here
was glory and fame snatched from them
by this "tell-tale" tail. Thereby hangs
a tall" said Libby. in sorrowns tones.
Suddenly. the writer was seized with an
Inspiration (Which IS not often the easel
Was he 10 be deprived OF all this glory
simply for the lack of a mean. little APP
penGage OF "a snake. which would not
have measured one sixticth OF It's whole
length? Not much. The appearance OF
the snake in every way. was that OF a
rattler If nature had not given the
reptile those little bone buttons on the
I
but couldn't be helped Why not cut
the tail Off, swear that the rattles had
been given away. and return to the
Springs with the boss ra.tlesnake Of the
season No sooner suggested thar
agreed. Neither had pocketknife how
ever. It was decided. therefore Il
stop at neighboring house, which haC
been passed. let the residents into
the secret and despoil the reptile OF 1t!
luck. the kindly disposed neighbors haC
the appendage OF a genuine 'rattler" Il
lend. An axe deprived the bis
snake of two inches OF IT'S tail. a few
drops OF the blood made the old rattlei
look as good as new" aud thanking the
kind friends Libby and the writer re
turned in triumph 10 the hotel. Imme
/, ! diately upon their arrival. a crow,
gathered and the big "rattler" was soor
! surrounded by nearly every one on III,
place Tho reptile was measured an,
found 10 be 5 feet. 4 inches long Th,
: snake hunters were the champions n
the day. and right well did they bear
their honors In a few minutes I'D strod,
! DR.. William r. Jones. and the crow
parted 10 allow him % get near enough
TO obtain good view OF the repti,a 10
> the Doctor is known 10 be an au,horit,
on rattlesnakes. having made A study o
| them, read much on knakeOlOgy.' ane
having successfully treated the case Of Z
mountaineer who had been bitten by ;
rattler.
, A LECTURE on SNAKES.
The rattles OF the dead snake were be
ing passed around among the crows
while the Doctor delivered a learned lee
ture on the rattlesnake. pronounced thi
the best and largest specimen he ha,
ever seen. went into details. and do
scribed the species OF this particular one