The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11
4 SNAKE UNDER HIS SHIRT.
An Unpleasant Feature OF Sleeping Out Or
Doors In Colorado.

1T was in the San Juan country, in Colorado.
in 1875, that / had an experience that few men
would be likely TO forget in a lifetime" said J.
r. Lantry last night in the Office OF an uptown
hotel much frcquented by Western men. a
party OF five OF us had gone in there 10 prospe''
ahead OF the rush that we knew would come
next year. II was one night toward the end o,
September that VIC were in camp in the oren
air. every man lying rolled up in his blankets.
for the nights were getting cold and frosty.
Next TO me was a man named Adams. from Hi
nois originally. I believe. About the middle of
the night he woke me by calling my name.
What's the matter. Billf ! asked.
He answered me in n most peculiar .one-n
was as II he were trying 10 speak without
breathing or moving a muscle Of his body.
For Gods sake help me, Lantry.' he said.
There's a snake crawling mp under my shirt.
II came mp on my elbow and looked AT Adams.
The moon was shining brightly, so that Icould
see everything almost as well ms il it had been
daylight. Adams was lying on his hack as still!
as a stone. and his face was like the face Of a
corpse. He had taken his boots OF before turn
ing in, and his stockingcd feet stuck out below
the bottom Of his blankets. Alongside one or
them, passing inside his trousers leg. was the
last twelve inches Of n rattlesnaIe-a hig one
curling 10 and fro. like the end OF a whip. as 1t
went up out of sight,
".For God : sake. hurry! said Adams. HIS
heads on my chest now. and he's coming higher
all The time. Cut my clothes of me, and done
waste time!
keep still. Adams, md don't wake the
camp. | cautioned him. II there gets to be a
rackc, round it'll start the snake M. He won't
get hostile il he's let alone. Now he's quiet and
let me work. ~
of Adams. That left him lying IN shirt and
trousers. with the snake next his skin. Then ]
set to work 10 cnt away, his clothes, or course.
an "ssr ring 10 do. Tor under The clothes ITO
reptile felt az big as a barrel. My hunting knife
Lex. Tipping it up at the side. Then i cut tho
shirt open on The side. working from the bottom
II ine A% SomsidS MSs ''Hae e Ins there tns tI not moyins .
muscle. scarcely venturing Ia breathe. with that
heavy. cold reptile on his chest and is head az
His throat. But in that still tone that hc had
used before something as II a dead man we're
talking he ,wonlld say. now and again: Harry
1"J'pp round tho neck. whore the hand was
tight IT was tiekiish business IN 70 , Gu, the sh,rf
, Esaiize TS'i ,h.i I 'V Was WORKING "R s"S With h'T my hand
mighty near u rattlcsnNke's head. But got the
shir! AT ri lea :, from hCr si ,Hp 81 10 t oqs,"m' rH'n ! "'"'
""'.%ow, Bill. / said, and pulled shirt and trou'
sers leg over, 10 me, leaving Adams's body bare.
biz, dark-co!ored mountain snake, fully Ave feet
long. As il lay in something OF an s shape ne
tai, was a adams knee, while its head rested
IA sight OF me the snake drew hack its head
and went half into coil on hIlns's stomach
Thin, seeing that I did not move or offer to A.
tack II, the snake turned and crawlcd on rom
Adams and made for the shelter OF a plant I" ha''
dozen steps away,
IAN right, Bill; he's gone, ! said,
f" II was like touching a spring. | heiicve lhat
four feet straight into the air: and the yell, he
fetched made the boys think, .ns the woke thn,i
the tics wero upon ua, The sight oil a nan
naked man, jumping and yelling, without there
seeming any cause for il, was rather starting
as II was. But Adams quoted down in II minute
or two, about the time ! had matters explained.
Two OF 10 went out and killed the SNAKE hls
rafting gave him away-and the rest heilc9
Adams get his clothes patched together 10 do IN
morning"