Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1879 — How a Girl Captured a Monster Rattlesnake. [ARTICLE]

How a Girl Captured a Monster Rattlesnake.

Helena (Montana) Herald: Zoe Merceau is a girl of 17, of mixed Mood, beautiful and bold. Her mother now dead, was the daughter of a Sioux chief; her lather is a French Canadian. The family habitation, until recently, has been north of the Now it is located in the northern-part of Lewis and Clarke county on a tributary, part of Sun river. Zoe has both a fine form and a lovely face, and her glossy black braids swept down to the very hem of her garments. It isn’t romancing a bit co say that this girl is quite the rage in *4hat region. The cow boys are smitten with her charms. As one of them remarks, “We have

gone mad, to the last one of us, over toe dark eyed beauty.” Zoe is a daring rider. On her favorite beast, bare back, she outs trine every competitor with the greatest ease. All this is told us on the side. On Tuesday of last week Zoe had a remarkable exploit. While out looking up some of her father’s missing ponies she encountered a monster rattlesnake, a warning from which caused her horse suddenly to shy, nearly dismounting her. Getting command of her animal, she reined up a short distance from the reptile, which, angered at the intrusion, coiled itself ready for the gage of battle. Cool and collected, the girl, swinging her lariet, hit it a sharp blow. Maddened, the snake several times struck at her. Dexterously swinging her supple cord again, she “noosed” toe reared head of the snake, and, wheeling about, bore rapidly off for home, dragging her Srize after her. It was undoubtedly le liveliest snaking ever done in Montana. Arriving at the house, her father and several cow boys stepped out to greet her, and to them she promptly exhibited the monster, its life now extinct. One of the suitors sprang forward to get dimensions, its length, by actual measurement, was ascertained to be seven fefit and eight inches, and its ginh, at the largest part, sixteen inches. Another suitor whipped out a buffalo knife and severed the rattles—a string numbering twenty-nine complete ones and a “button.” This string of rattles was sent into Helena, and in compliance with an order accompanying it, Mr. Oppe, the expert jeweler, has for several days beln employed in forming the most unique necklace probably ever made in this or any other country. It is intended as a present to Zoe Merceau, and after this any one visiting her home will doubtless see it adorning her graceful neck.