White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-11-11

ANSFN NAo $500
perilous experience than this and
survive. Nevada did such human
being by greater GOODNESS of head
cheat death.
But Dan McDonald's time had not
come. 1t was foreordained that the
White Pine pioneer was to live at
least forty-six years end probably
many more after the terrible moment
when a monster rattlesnake all but
had its fangs settled in his very face.
1t was in 1877. Judge Mcdonald,
then a young a not over twenty,
was on his way from Hamilton to
Phoebe. Accompanying him was a
Frenchman named LeRock. AS they
were riding along the old road be-
lower White river, which road come
in below S~unnyside, they overlook
three Mormon transfers with freight
wagons. They had been squirting
their saddle horses along smartly,
expecting to make Mrs. Lewis place
to stop over night, but in visiting
awhile with the Mormons, the latter
said they had some extra horse feed
and Mr.. Mcdonald and companion
might as we'll camp with them.
They made their beds down on the
ground with the skies for an awning
and slept soundly. In the morning
as the dawn was breaking but slight
ly MI. Mcdonald was partially walk
ened by the teamsters, who had got
ten up to attend to their horses.
While only half awake and in the
worst mental condition for such a
situation and lying on his back, he
became conscious of a weight above
his stomach, which seemed to be
alive and moving. 1t caused him to
move his head, raising it slightly as
he opened his eyes to discover the
cause of this sensation.
1t was a huge RATHER, coiled and
with it's neck raised and it's tongue
protruding as it swayed it's wicked
head ready to strike. Being in strik-
ing distance it could have buried its
fangs in Mr.. McDonald's face quicker
than any lightning.
Imagine yourself IN the position of
the pioneer-what would you have
done?
Most any person would have ans
wered that he would have screamed
and made an effort to cover his face
or to dodge the snakes fangs and get
out of the bed.
What Judge Mcdonald dill was 10
hold his face perfectly still and lay
a plan, being perfectly cool about
it.
Both his arms were beneath the
blankets and extended down to his
sides. AS easy and gradual about
it as he could he drew both hands to
his shoulders, then in the same man.
ner doubled his fingers back, his
palms, though under the covers,
toward the snake. When he had
them in the right position, with cat
like quickness he Topped the toD
blanket i've the monster and threw
it off the foot of the bed.
In doing this Mr.. Mcdonald for
the first time aroused his partner
and instantly the former was out Of
the bed and h~ot-footing It to the
freighters' wagons, where there wac
a shotgun.
A volley tore the reptiles giant
body asunder and the peril was over
Eleven rattles and a button it had
In every particular happening
when a person was half asleep. COM
ing right upon his body, within reach
Of his face, coiled and m~otioning it's
head to strike. and getting rid of it
as he did, this is the most thrilling
snake adventure that this writer ever
heard or v expects to hear.
1t may depend upon the person
but it seems that there is a Divinity
that has a hand in sharing such ends
that is controlling the emotions Of