The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-11-09
CHARMED BY A RATTLEsNAKE.

Sank Into UnconsciouSnesS While the Serpent Was Coiled on His Breast Professor Charles Rice, the botanist, had a thrilling experience with mon- ster rattlesnake one day last week, and 1t was only his goodness and presence of mind that saved him from death. Professor Rice and Dr. Tynan, the bu- gologist, were up in the higher alti- tudes of the Sierras in search of rare specimens, and were camped at a place called Moore Creek. They had a. small tent with them, which they had pitched near stream of water that was fed by spring higher up on the side of the mountain
 Friday evening of last week the pro- lessor and his companion, who were completely worn out With their day s tramp in search of rare flowers and bugs, retired to their tent, rolled them- selves up in their blankets, and were soon in dreamland. Just as daylight was breaking the professor was awak- ened from his slumbers by feeling a soft and clammy substance, crawling over his face and down onto his chest, and on raising his head little to his horror he discovered it was a mon- ster rattlesnake. The reptile had coil | ed itself, with it's head raised about a | foot.
 Cold drops of precipitation ooZed from every pore of the professors s body while his muscles became as rigid as bars of iron, and his eyes be- came fixed with stony glare as he | gazed at the head of the monster,which | oh nttt eli ir1o frnTl1 face and swinging from one side to the other with the regularity of a clock pendulum The suspense was becom- ing unbearable, but still he knew that
 the least move tha he made meant death in the most horrible form. How long he remained in this terrible posi- ton he does not know, but it seemed ages, when suddenly he felt his mus cles relax, his vision grow dim, every thing around him became dark and in few seconds he was obivious to every
 thing around him. The doctor was quietly sleeping few feet away, un- conscious of the terrible danger of his companion When he awoke the sun
 was bright streaming into the tent, and as he rolled over in his blankets toward his companion his blood seemed l to chill in his veins at the sight pre- scented to his view. His companion was
 stretched at full length upon the
 ground with his eyes closed and his face as white as piece of marble
 while coiled upon his breast was a
 huge rattlesnake, apparently asleep.
 He quietly seized a shotgun that was
 standing near by, and, cooking both l barrels, raised it to his shoulder and
 was about to fire, when he realized
 that if he did he would probably in-
 jure his companion. Just at this mo-
 ment his companion moved little, when the snake gave a rattle and again raised his head. The doctor, seeing his 1 chance, fired, and at the report of the
 gun his companion gave yell and
 Jumped to his feet, throwing the rep
 tile some three or four feet away from | him in it's death struggle. The doctor s
 aim was true, for the reptiles head
 was blown completely off,
 On being measured it was found to be
 four feet nine and one-half inches in length and had seventeen rattles and
 a button. The professors nerves were
 so shattered by his terrible experience that he was hardly able to walk, and
 the following day, in company with his
 companion, he returned to this place
 where he is at present recuperating un-
 der the doctors care.-Calaveras Chronicle