New Hampshire Statesman

From the N. Y. Spirit of the Times.

A Snake Story Extraordinary:

"The biter bit," and no mistake:

My Dear "Spirit:"—The following most horrible adventure occurred to me some time ago, when travelling in the valley of the Mississippi; those who have been there will recollect the ravines which are often met with back among the bluffs caused by the washings in the alluvial by the frequent and tremendous rains; these ravines are often over 100 feet deep, and extend for a mile or more.

One morning, my hospitable host, having business in the neighboring town, begged I would for one day excuse him and amuse myself.—Shortly after his departure I took my gun, and rambled out for game,

"Whistling as I went, for want of thought."

I had strolled I don't know how far, and with but indifferent success, thinking more of Mary, the blue-eyed daughter of my host, and how to catch her, rather than bag partridges, when I came to one of those large, deep ravines which nature has ploughed in the soil. Being tired, I concluded I could venture to descend and climb up again, rather than go around, for the distance seemed near a quarter of a mile, and the ravine was not over a hundred feet deep. While scrambling up the opposite side, at mid-way, to my horror I saw coiled up at the foot of a clump of bushes a huge rattle snake. I had almost put my foot upon him, when the snake, roused at the intrusion upon his solitude, rose, and rapidly coiled himself around me. Had I had time for thought I should not have acted better than I did, which was impulsively to throw my gun away, and seize the snake near the head. A moment's hesitation would have been fatal to me. Here I was, forty or fifty feet above the bottom of the ravine, holding with one hand to the bushes, to prevent my falling down the almost perpendicular height, and with the other having hold of the snake's head. To fling the snake away was my first idea, but that was too dangerous, besides, being nearly eight feet long, he was too tightly coiled around me. I knew no house was near, and the cotton fields which I had been through were not likely to be traversed by any one; therefore all succor from others was a thing neither to be hoped or expected.

Minutes passed like hours, the serpent was hissing, darting out his horrible forked tongue; his tail was wriggling and his rattles going, and every now and then I fancied I heard his call answered by others much too near for my pleasure. As long as I held my present advantage there was no danger from my bosom companion, but unless something turned up to relieve me, I could not hold on till the snake died of old age or want of food. But when our fortunes are at the lowest, there is a turning point—a bright idea rushed into my head, "to bite his head off."

Having hold of the snake's head with my right hand, I could not, even if I could have let go the bush with my left, have used my knife, which was in the right pocket of my trowsers.

There is an old nursery rhyme which speaks about

"Four and twenty black-birds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing,
Was this not a dish to set before the king?"

However the king might have relished live black-birds, I doubt if he would have fancied a luncheon off a live rattle-snake, but these were not my thoughts just then. Although beautiful the snake was, his skin glittering in the soft sun of a fine day in November, yet I felt no appetite for my denic meal. But things were becoming desperate, so, after adjusting my position to command the neck more easily, I bit with vigor!—The thought of it makes me now nearly as sick as the bite did then, for on the fat and pieces coming in my mouth I gave to mother earth the hasty breakfast which I had enjoyed but a few hours before, and became so faint with disgust that I could scarcely keep my two holds,—the snake hissed and writhed, and that horrible forked tongue went dancing in and out! No devil could have had more fiery eyes. Again I wound myself up to the frightful task, and gnawed and gnawed till the vertebrae was in two, and the snake was lifeless theoretically, but still that horrible tongue went in and out; but my danger was over, and with one effort I tore the mangled head, and threw it from me, and quickly disengaged myself from the remaining part.

My gun, which had rolled to the bottom of the ravine, I left, too exhausted to go for it, and not a little in fear of more rattle-snakes; so, after making my way to the top of the ravine, steered for the nearest house, where I got a vehicle and drove to my friends, where I was confined to the bed for three weeks, from an illness growing out of the great state of excitement which I had undergone. And I owe many thanks to my sweet Mary for her kindness during the period of my convalescence, which brought two souls to closer sympathy.

The planter sent for my gun, and at the same time ordered the negro to bring the rattle, which he did. We counted fourteen! My friend begged to keep them, and I thought them but a small exchange for his daughter.