The National tribune., 1901-06-27
Challenging a Rather.
(NeW York SUM-

Did you ever see cow-pUncher kill G
rattlesnake with knifer said Colorado
citizen now in town. when / first went
West l punched cattle on the Sunset
Ranch, one of the largest in Southern Col
Orado. l was a tenderfoot, fresh from
the East, but no swell head about me.
That saved me lot of trouble. Among
other things l learned how to kill a rat
tier with a bowie knife. l killed one
with knife to make my standing good
but after that gun or a pitchfork was
good enough for me.
II have seen a plainsman ride up to q
small-sized rattler, jump off his horse, kick
at the waving head, avoid the strike, and
as the reptile came down place a heel upon
its neck, coolly take knife from his belt
and dispatch it.
"A rattlesnake is harmless out of coil.
For that reason it wastes no time in get
ting back into coil after the spring. 1t
will not strike unless 1t is perfectly sure
it can reach its object. Therefore the
cowboy must get into reach of the snakes
spring. 1t can spring half its own length
and sometimes more. OF course the larger
the snake the more coils, and the more
coils the more vicious the strike.
Dick Haynes was young daredevil
who would go out of his way to play with
a rattler. l have seen him kill at least
dozen with knife, and saw him when
he got such a close call that he dropped the
game and used a gun forever after
I'VE were out together one Sunday. 1t
was warm, and as we rode he famed his
face with his sombrero. Suddenly he
clapped his hat on his head and started
his bronco on lope. Watch me get that
pison,' he shouted.
Fifty yards to our right was a rattler
1t was trying to get away but we headed
it in an instant, and were off our horses
1t Immediately coiled, and then | saw the
biggest snake l have ever seen. 1t was a
diamond rattler and about 20 years old
1t had the ugliest head l ever saw, enor-
nous in size and with a mouth that re-
minded me of q bulldogs jaw. Dick
stopped just long enough to size up its
length so as to get an idea of its spring,
and then went in on it.
THE strike came like a flash of light
ming. The snake struck the ground with
sound like the cracking of a four-horse
whip lash in the hand of an expert Dick
just saved himself by throwing his body
back full length. The snake coiled again
before Dick could get to it. / got nervous
and called to him to shoot it.
That's the first one that ever struck
at me and got back he said, and I'm GO
ing to have that pretty head
The rattler was beside itself with rage.
1t lay, coil upon coil of smooth glistening
length, showing the long reach and pow
erful spring in reserve. Out of the coils
two feet more of body and neck rose
straight in the air, and moved all that
black, fiat, venomous head, with glowing
eyes and forked tongue waved, slightly,
warily, to and fro.
Dick stepped in again more cautiously.
He reached the knife nearer and yet near
er to that swaying head. knew he was
getting too close, but l feared to speak to
him. Then came the strike. with that
marvellous dart of speed. Dicks knife
flashed and the snake lay squirming, a
headless thing upon the ground
Let's get to camp said Dick, it got
me in the thumb
1--WE jumped for the saddles and started
on mad run for home Dick rode with
his thumb on the saddle horn, and his
knife in the other hand.
:" If she begins to swell, off she comes
said he.
I'VE reached the ranch, and while Dick
poured down whiskey, we examined the |
thumb. We could find nothing, not the |
slightest wound. The snake had struck |
the handle of his knife and the strength |
md suddenness of the impact made Dick |
ose his nerve. 1t was a good thing for |
him. He never went after rattler again |
without q long "a" |