The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-08-27
SLIClNG A RATHER.
THE COLORADO WAY OF TURNING
THE DANGEROUS TRICK.


Oexterity and Daring Of the Cowboy
In Cutting on the Head Of the Rep
tile After Its IneRectual Attempt
to Strike.
"Did you ever see COW puncher kill
rattlesnake with a knifeY' said a
Colorado citizen now in town. "When
I first went west, punched cattle on
the Sunset ranch, one Of the largest in
southern Colorado. was tenderfoot,
fresh from the east, but no swell head
about me. That saved me q lot Of
trouble. The boys were dead willing
to put me next, even to q 14-year-old
brOnch0 never halter broken. Among
other things, learned how to kill a
RATHER with a bowie knife. l killed
one with knife to make my standing
good, but after that a gun or a pitch
fork was good enough for me.
II have seen plainslN9n ride up to
a small sized RATHER, jump off his horse,
kic!; at the waving head, avoid the
strike and as the reptile came down
place heel upon it's neck, coolly take
knife from his belt and dispatch it.
I have also seen live RATHER thrown
up on a haystack machine, and l have
seen the men working on that stack
Jump, roll, tumble and slide to get
away. They could not see the RATHER;
that was all. In the open they would
have played with it.
"A rattlesnake is harmless out Of
coil. For that reason 1t wastes no time
In getting back into coil after the
spring. 1t will not strike unless it is
perfectly sure 1t can reach it's object.
Therefore the cowboy must get into
reach of the snakes spring. 1t can
spring half it's own length. and some
times more. OF course the larger the
snake the more coils, and the more
coils the more vicious the strike.
"Dick Haynes was q young dare
devil who would 60 out Of his way to
play with rattler. have seen him
kill at least a dozen with knife, and
l saw him when he got such a close call
that he dropped the game and used a
gun forever after.
1--WE were out together one Sunday.
It was warm, and as we rode he famed
his face with his sombrero Suddenly
he clapped his hat on his head and
started his broncho on lope. Watch
me get that pison,' he shouted.
"Fifty yards to our right was rat
tier. 1t was trying to get away, but
we headed it in an instant and were of
our horses. 1t Immediately coiled, and
then saw the biggest snake I have
ever seen. 1t was a diamond RATHER
and about 20 years old. It had the
ugliest head l ever saw, enormous in
size, and with a mouth that reminded
me Of 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 q foul
horse whiplash in the hands Of an ex
pert. Dick just saved himself by
throwing his body back full length
The snake coiled again before Dick
could get to It. got nervous and call
ed to him to shoot it.
""That's the first one that ever struck
at me and got back he said. and In
going to have that pretty head
"The RATHER was beside itself witt
rage. 1t lay. coil upon coil Of smooth
} glistening length, showing the Ions
reach and powerful spring in reserve
Out of the coils two feet more of BODY
and neck rose straight in the air, ant
above all that black. yenOmOus head
, with glowing eyes and forked tongue
waved, slightly, warily. to and fro.
"Dick stepped in again, more eau
tiously. He reached the knife neare
and yet nearer to that swaying head
knew he was getting too close, but
feared to speak to him. Then came tn
strike, with that marvellous dart o
speed. Dicks knife flashed and tn
snake lay squirming, headless thing
upon the ground.
t "'Let's get to camp said Dick. I
> got me in the thumb
1--WE jumped for the saddles ant
started on a mad run for home. Die
Y rode with his thumb on the saddl
4 horn and his knife in his other hand.
"If she begins to swell. off sh
comes,' said he.
1--WE reached the ranch, and Will
Dick poured down whisky we exam
q ined the thumb. We could find moth
/, ing. not the slightest wound. The snak
!, had struck the handle Of his knife. an
the strength and suddenness Of the In
= pact made Dick lose his nerve. 1t wa
g q good thing for him. He never wen
J. after a RATHER again without q lon
'44.'"-New York Sun.
Going All the Time.
l. 81 see a Wisconsin man claims I