Arizona daily citizen., 1901-03-30
Judge Barnes
Latest Snake Story.

Judge William II. Barnes, the snake
editor of the Arizona Republican, and
frequent contributor to the snake de-
partment OF the New York Sun, has re-
sumed his iabors after long period Of
recreation spent among the affairs of the
Cebre Grande. He now comes forward
with reptilian anecdoto which is even
more weird than his story of the famous
irrigating bull snakes, on which until
now his fame as a graphic and truthful
writer has chiefly rested. The incident
most recently related by Judge Barnes
occurred several months ago. He heard
of it at the time, but it was so remark
able and there was such lack of corro-
borative proof that he hesitated about
writing it. He feared that it might turn
out to be an exaggeration. 1t is essen
tial that snake editor should confne
himself closely to facts. The religious
or the society editor need not be so care
ful. What the religious editor writes is
accepted as true, and people are too po-
lite to critically inspect the statements
OF the society editor. But the lime light
Of criticism is thrown upon the work of
the snake editor. Everybody is looking
for flaws and misstatements and his ar
ticles are frequently pronounced outrage
ously fictitious by persons who have not
taken pains to hunt up proof OF their.
untruthfulness.
So Judge Barnes restrained himself
from giving publicity to this story until
he had gathered all the evidence which
he is now able to produce. 1t is as fol-
lows: Last September James Joyce,
prospeetor aged 3s, and native OF IL
nois where his parents, one brother
and sister now reside, went into camp
on the sopri side of the Sierrita noun
tains about seventy.five miles southeast
OF Tucson. He had long and ffuitless
tramp and was very tired. About hall
past eight o'clock, having partaken OF a
light collation. OF black coffee, beans and
bacon. and having tended to the needs
OF his pack OF burros, he wrapped him
self in heavy, dark-colored blanket
and prepared to sleep. A rudimentary
or incipient slumber was disturbed by
he loud whir-r-r of a rattlesnake near
by, so near, in fact, that Mr.. Joyce, who
is person OF more than usual presence
OF mind, instead Of sprihging mp as most
men would have done, and perhaps
have sprung, Gguratively speaking, into
the arms OF the snake, of whose precise
location in the darkness he could not be
aware, he wrapped the blanket more
tightly about him and drew it closely
about his head, preferring death by suf.
location TO the dying sgonies which
would follow, so TO speak, upon the
heels OF the fattlesnake's fangs.
The snake, having again summoned
him to surrender with all the sonorous-
ness and imperiousness it could throw
into the tones OF its tail, determined to
capture him by assault. 1t struck the
blanket with great force, but Mr.. Joyce
felt nothing but the impact which,
though more jarring, is less poisonous
than the fangs of rattiesnake. After
that everything was strangely silent.
Mr.. Joyce lay in mortal terror and the
blanket through the livelong night. He
feared the cunriDg strategy OF the snake
and dared not remove the covering from
his head, He reasoned beside that he
could not see anything anyhow.
He lay thus until long after sun
rise. His terror grew on him un-
til he realized that uncertainty was
making a maniac of him and the
bl pket was making him hot. He eau
tiously removed the covering from his
face and glanced along the. blanket.
The snake was there stretched out alive
but harmless. His death dealing frarg
we're entangIed in the heavy texture.
The snake looked at Mr. joyce appeal
ingly, but there was no quarter. The
reptile was dispatched and his fans 6
were pried out OF the blanket, or, as
Mr.. Joyce told Judge Barnes, they were
"prized out"
Mr.. Joyce made curious discovery
then. The dark blanket had turned
white during that night Of terror. In
the course of half an hour it was swollen
to double Its thickness and began to
take on sickening green hue. 1t was
as clear case of blood poisoning as
blanket ever figured in. The blanket is
now on exhibition in Charlie Browns
saloon at Tucson. Those inclined to Ee
skeptical regarding this strange occur
renee are invited to write to Mr.. Joyce
He is now on visit among his refa
tives in Illinois, but intends to return tt
Tucson Immediately after the st. Louis
exposition celebrating the anniversary
of the Louisiana Purchase.-PhoeniS
Republican.