The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-08-18

tiEelY cut OF MS N1luQ-
This summer. II was bis lot 70 ns
employed as one OF the engineers on
the survey OF the Cheat river territory
which will be Inundated when the
proposed dams are built
One day as he carried his level
through the woods. he heard distihcs-
Ily the warning rattle OF a snake. He
was familiar with the habits and hab-
int OF the reptile and stopped In
stantly. The rattling Kept up. at In
tervaIs. broken at regular periods.
at-ta-tat-ta tat-tR-tat went the sig
NAL. Constant repetition nna7'y
caught the ear OF the erstwhiIe tele-
grapher. He listened Closely. Dot
Observation-Disclosures went the
souids. Again and again the signal
was repeated, Mr. BurlWin finally
recognized the signal-it was the
call of his old station on the B. & o.
Incredulous, but almost convinced by
Its recurrence, he dedoubled his eff
forts to locat its source, and was
rewarded by seeing two large diam
ond-back rattlers coiIed on a rock
nearby.
He paused, and observed them
closely. The Signalling Of the rattle
continued, and the larger Of the two
snakes deported itself in a strange
manner. The head was gaised, but
not in the attitude to strike. It moved
hack and forth in si1uOus waves and
! at intervals, touched the head OF the
other coi1ed rather, which az prone
upon the rock. with no demonstration
of enmity. ~
Mr.. Burlwin began to recall his Tor
mer pet, and awaited Developments.
He knew too much of rattIe-snakes
ito take any chance, but stood still
and waited. finally, the larger Of
the two snakes, uncoiled and advance-
ed toward him. head and tail prone
on the ground, except that now and
then the tail was raised to repeat the
old telegraph station signal. The
snake vsriggled to his foot and lay
content. He felt perfectly safe in his
high boots, and watched until con-
WINGED that he was not in danger.
The smaller snake, eventually, fol-
lowed his companion. and both lay
at the sole of his boot, apparently
without fear. Taking his lunch bas-
ket from his back, he removed its
contents, and placed It on the
ground. In monent,f both snakes
wrlggled into 1t, and quietly went to
sleep. He closed the lid, and carried
his prizes to camp. where they were
placed In box, and are nowvto be
seen by all visitors. Mr.. Bur1wIn is
able to arouse the. larger snake at
any time by tapping on the outssce
of the cage with the -dash-dOt-dot
call of his old station in the Ale,
ghenies.- .I-r-s ,.ar .2.l-
The~s can be T,,t s:{tie doubt ti,at
the rcr.;Ile which escaped from his
Quarters in the room of the student
at Cleveland returned to his old
haunts in tn Cheat muntain, and rec
ognfzed it's former friend ond keeper
in the engineer who by chance came
into the wilds. 1t is also apparent
that the snake had through many
repetitIons of the telegraphic signal
caught the language of recognition,
and repeated. it mechanically when
the former operator appeared 1t is
also evident that the snake kept it's
companion quiet and harmless while
the sign Of recognition was passed.
The story, improbable though il
seems, has many elements to support
it, and those who know Mr.. Burlwin
are more than ready to credit every
statement he makes. ~rta