Something Like a Rattlesnake Story.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7367, 15 November 1898, Page 4

Something Like a Rattlesnake Story.

Professor Charles Rich, the botanist, had a thrilling experience with a rattlesnake, and it was only his coolness and presence of mind that saved him from death. Professor Rich and Dr Tynan, the bngologist, were up in the higher altitudes of the Sierras (query: Do reptiles affect these alpine regions?— Ed.) in search of rare specimens, and were camped at a place called Moore Creek. They had with them a small tent, which they had pitched near a stream of water that was fed by a spring higher up on the side of the mountain. On the Friday evening the professor and his companion, who were completely worn oat with their day's tramp in search of rare flowers and bugs, retired to their tent, rolled themselves up in their blankets, and were soon in dreamland. Just as daylight was breaking, the professor was awakened from his slumbers by feeling a sofc and clammy substance crawling over his face, and down on to his chest, and, on raising his head a little, to his horror, he discovered that it was a monster rattlesnake. The reptile had coiled itself, with its head raised about a foot, and ready at the least movement to strike. Cold drops of perspiration oozed from every pore of the professor's body, while his muscles became as rigid as bars of iron, and his eyes fixed with a stony alare, as he gazed at the head of the monster, which was about six or seven inches from his face, and swinging from one side to the other with the regularity of a clock pendulum. The suspense was becoming unbearable, bat well he knew that the least move that he made meant death in the most horrible form. How long he remained in this terrible position he does not know, bub it seemed ages, when suddenly he felt his muscles relax, his vision grow dim ; everything around him seemed' to become dark, and in a few minutes ha was oblivious to everything about him. The doctor was quietly sleeping a few feet away, unconscious of the terrible danger of his companion. When' he awoke the sun was streaming brightly into the tent, and as he rolled over in his blankets towards his companion his blood seemed to chill his veins at the sight presented to his view. His companion was stretched at full length upon the ground, with his eyes closed and his face as white as a piece of marble, while coiled upon his breasb was a huge rattlesnake, apparently asleep. He quietly seized a shot-gun that was standing near by, cocking both raised it to his shoulder and was about to fire, when he first realised- that if he did so he would probably injure his companion. Just at this moment his companion moved a little when the . snake gave a rattle and again xaised his 'hefed. : The doctor,' seeing"his chance, fired, and at the report of the'gun his companion gave a yell,'and jumped to his feet, throwing the reptile some three or four feet away from him, in its death struggle. The ; doctor's aim was true, for the reptile's head was: blown completely: off. On being measured, it was found to be 4ft 9£in long, and had 17 ractles and a button. The professor's, nerves werei" so shattered by his l experience : -that .Jfor a couple of days he was hardly able to walk.

Wild roses are indigenous to the &londyke. They overspread much of the country, and bloom in the summer,; From this standpoint, at any rate; "roseate " views of the field are found to be justified, though is must be confessed that bouquets are poor substitutes for •nuggets.