Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-11-15
HOW THE RATHER
PROTECTSITS YOUNG
WASHINGTON HUNTERS STORY OF
AN ENCOUNTER ON A GAME
TRAIL.

TRAIL.
From the Seattle observation-disclosures
During my ten years stay in Montana
had some experience with Che rate
snake said an old hunter Of Seattle
discussing this poisonous reptile ane
some Of its characteristics He continued
In Montana many have been killed
by the rattIesnake The most danger
Gus period Is what is known as the dog
days Of July and August In these
months the reptiles are blind and always
coiled for action Very few people ever
recover II bitten during either Of these
months. as the rattlers are more pois-
onous al this period than at any other
time. The RATHER is very savage in its
blind condition and will strike at all
sounds that appear near him.
although we are king of all animals,
we hate to meet Mr. Snake The
people OF Washington should be thankful
to have such prosperous State,
splendid cii,oat- I'd to be entirely clea"
of the poisonous pests that people in
many countries dread / have been in
formed by good authority that plans are
under way to start big rattlesnake
farm near Seattle, the object of the en-
terprise being to furnish the market
with snake oil, which brings high
price the world over
I'm the first week of September, 1896 |
| had queer experience with a rattle
snake family. This is true story. /
was on a hunting expedition in the
South Crow Creek country in Montana. I
1.-The morning was cold and chilly I
was in a hurry to cross the Quartzite
Divide. which is the home of the dread
ough surface 1 generally followed old
anne trails. especially when they led
my way near my direction. l just
cached the first gig butte close to
he summit when a large RATHER jump
d from flat boulder and challenged m
D fight. She almost struck me before
succeeded in getting away from her
each She was more than five feet
ing and game to the tail. I think it
as the most vicious snake | ever met ,
nrng my travels in various mountain
ountries. :
I'm looking around to see what | could I
nd in the nature of a weapon to kill !
lis venomous enemy | nearly stepped
a large bunch of baby snakes. The
tile prisoners were huddled up close
gether. They were about five inches
ng. brownish in color. fourteen in ALL
I'd certainly were true counterparts of
cir mother, who was only a few yards h
way. Il
you can imagine my surprise in g
2 down on this reptilian family. l a
Is about to get step closer when the n
l snake made a peculiar noise I had Il
idea what it meant but / was soon
formed by the wise ones; they knew =
e call and made a dash for mother -,
e received them with open mouth =,
allowing her little darings as fast as
ture allowed her TO give them trans b,
ration It was comical to see those 1t
lie reptiles hurrying over the rough 81
,und to obey mothers call when she nj
We them the signal of danger. I'll
After storing her babies she looked
ice her former size, and expecting
ube coiled herself for battle. Al u
5 moment thought struck me that :.
,ould kill the reptile with my rifle, he
hough | had never heard of any one Ir.
citing snake. Drawing fine bead 70
the body of many lives ! penetrated be
centre with four shells from my MI
50 Winchester rifle Ms