Arizona republican., 1901-05-31
A REPTILIAN TRAGEDY
Historic Combat OF Hassayamper's
 Bread Basket.

"Hassayampa, an occasional corres- pyudent or The Republican, sends in the following communication, accompanied hy a letter warning Little James not tu put too much faith in some of the sensational snake stories that find their way into The Republican from time to time, for fear it win prejudice him against historic incidents, such as he furnishes occasionally, and a sample of which fellows:
 Hasnyampa, May %. Especial cor respondent of The Republican)-It was away back in the sixties that a party Of six of us was out on an exploring and prospecting trip. and camped one day al or near a place now known as the Ross Ranch" situated between Wal nut Grove and the Delpasco mountains in Yavapai county
 v was a beautiful glen, a fine spring Cf water esnding forth it's tiny crys- tai stream with babbling music. and It's spray of moisture like dew falling upon flowers and grass. bedecking them with myt.aGs of sunlit jewels. The sturdy oak. cherry. ash, walnut elderberry tree in bloom, the wild grape entwining among all and clamSering over clumps cf granite points that raised their gray i5h forms here and there in this vir- gin Elysian park
 It 50 happened that it was my day to guard and w3t,H amp, while the other members of the marty roamed the for rect and wilderness at their own sweet will and ever alert to not be surprised by the willy Nrr.Ne. IT guard camp was not 70 perilous as roaming around. for tho reason that if Indians were in the aelirn the party out would surely Grd signn There fore, feeling secure in camp, | relaxed vigilance, and some lit- tie time past midday | spread canvas on the grass in the shade, filled my pipe with navy plug tobacco, and with a coal cf fire cn top oi it begay vigorous suction and divers parting1 # lips with a smaCllir@ sound, which now reminds mo of tn, hrst time I ever tried to kiss a glr The lighting of the pipe being acc mplishcd l fixed my pillow comfor- tably high, as was my habit of sleeping. with my head on sufficient heading" that | could lock around without lifting my head from the pillow Lying down ffi IlA I'dfh 'ilh NItdllly -SUlOhlHH. my thoughts, castle building, my attention was drawn C. the cooirg or growing of a raad-ruunor Being something of mimic. ! an.Vered his cooing a few times and having smokel sufficiently [ have an inditinct vision of laying my pipe aside as Morpheus gathered me in his embrace, but different were my waking moments about one hour later. My sleeping dreams were a w,hirlwind of jumbled infernoS, At times I was belng crushed, beaten, smothered, drowned. I could hear roaring. like the wind waa tearing everything before 1t. Then hissing steam from @ multitude of escaping steam valves I remember be- coming resigned to my fate A perfect Con0o5urc overcame all my fears. oDered my eyes with the innocence of child; but horror! what a sight for mel The sweat was pouring from ev- cry pore and sy clothes were perfectly wet with precipitation My ears were buzzing with the music of rdttier's best efforts He was coiled upon my dinner basket, which is situ- ate close to and in conjunction with my stomach, his head elevated and swayine in an angry manner. His gltaming ryen and the lightning flashes