Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-02-02

Sed
Serpent of Cape Cod memory. Texas is agreat
country, but the unanimous man said of Mis-
sissippi, they have some very great liars there
for new country.-Buf Erp.
The Largest Snake vet.
We are not in the habit of giving credence
to snake stories In general nor would we wish
our readers to believe, from the fact Of our Civ
ing publicity to the following, that we are en-
tlrely converted into willing believers. We
give the statement exactly as it was made to
us by Mr.. Cruze, who resides at the stock farm
OF the Hon. Thomas F. McKinny, on Onion
Creek, about nine miles southwest of this city,
Mr.. Crnze states that some time since he was
informed by Merienda Mores. Mexican, who
resides at San Antonio, that he (Mores had
seen about six years ago, very high up on the
Colorado river, snake or serpent of such e.
normous size, that it could easily destroy the
largest animal found in this country; such as
deer, bears, panthers, and even full grown Buff
faloes. 1t was also represented that this large
serpent, for the distance of FIVE or six hundred
yards could surpass in feetness the fastest horse
The statement was corroborated by some Caddo
Indians, who now live on or near the premises
of Mr.. Cruze; and from their willingness to &C
company him to the place were they had stated
they had seen this snake, Cruze finally conclu-
ded to 60 with them to the place designated.
After travelling six days and half up the west
side of the Colorado, the Indians announced
themselves In the immediate vicinity of the spot
where the serpent had been seen. All were
now busy in examining Cor signs, and in short
time they came on large track, or trail, which
evidently had been made by something of the
snake kind. Following this trail, which is re-
presented by Mr.. Cruze as being about four
feet in width, they were soon Ted to consid-
cradle watcr-hole in valley near the foot of a
mountain. They then retraced their steps to
the place where they had first discovered the
trail, which they continued to follow; and at
the foot or on the side of the mountain, which
is about mile from the aforesaid water-hofe,
they discovered something resembling the en-
trance of a cavern, to which the trail evidently
led. After approaching within about six or
seven hundred yards of the mouth of the cave,
the Indians halted, and insisted that it was
highly dangerous to advance any farther; and
on an intImation of Cruze that he was willing
to make farther advance,they positively declared
that it would be impossible for him to escape if
he should do so. They stated that some years
ago there was a similar serpent discovered high
up on Red River; that it pursued and caught an
Indian who had always been acknowledged the |
feetest of his tribe, and who could run nearly |
as fast as a horse. They said this Indian had |
the boldness to advance within four or five hun |
dred yards of the den of the snake.
The fierce animal, on perceivng him, in
stantly darted forth in pursuit, and in a very |
short time overlook and Jevoured him. This they
stated was witnessed by their chief and several
others who had repaired thither OH the feetest
horses they could prucure,to witness the Indians
tenierity. After this, the Chief gave orders for
none of their tribe to hunt within 30 miles of the
haunt OF this horrible monster.
Mr.. Cruze listened to their tale with some
but having more confidence in the
Utility of his horse (which was fine blood
yelding) to take him out OF danger than they
lad, he advanced within about three hundred
'ards of the mouth of the cavern, where he
lalted. believing it unsafe to approach nearer.
from this position he could plainly see huge
mass living in the entrance of the cavern, which
e at once discovered to be something having
lie; for he could observe 1t slightly vibrate.-1'
may seem strange that the distance of three
undred yards the ordinary vibrations caused
Y the breathing of even as ponderous an ami !
lal as this, could be discernible to the naked
ye-in truth, we were of the opinion that this
art of the story enlanate. more from magma !
on than reality, but when We were informed :
rat the view of the entrance of the cavern was
holly unobstructed, that the sun being on the
ately on the portion of the serpant percepti-
e, we became less astonished at the state
ent, and readily believed that such thing a
light be possible, inasmuch as the circumfer-
ice of the snake was estimated at not less than
ven feet, To use the language of MIR. Cruze q
t seemed AS large or larger than the chest of :"
stout house, As but few feet of the snake
ere SEEM in consequence of its position in
e mouth of the cavern, its full length could u
It be even roughly estimsted, but Cruze, judg :.
q from the usual length of snakes, in proper .
IN to their thickness, supposed this could not ~
We been less than sixty or seventy feet long. .,
rom the advantage given by the light of the !. =:
N, he was enabled to distinguish that the "
in of he serpent was variegated with large !"
eds or spots of black, and dusky, reddish |"
lor.
The Caddo Indians stated that it was about =,
nile west of the present den where they first -
W it; this led Cruze to believe that there were ie
he RS of the same kind in that region; for it ",
Is evident that the present occupant of the -
vern, or some other similar description, had -
labited it for a great while, as there was an ~
mense quantity of the bones of different ami =,
lis scattered around its entrance for at least I'll
o hundred and fifty yards. He suggested to :.
Indians the probability that this was not the pa
axe they had before seen, and proposed max 'n
: search for another. This proposition was q
tantly objectedto. They said that in search ~
!, FOR another snake, they might accidentally Pu
ne too close upon one before discovering him;
possibly, on den where there were several, sel
in that event, the immediate destruction of W. W.
whole party would be inevitable. Cruze, "a a
vever, was determined upon a reconnaissance Sn
the approximate country:and when the lndi- &c;
found out his determination, they followed I u
D, with much ''fear and trembling" They INT
de a Circuit around the mountain, never ven
ing nearer than halfa mile of the cavern, and VII
ng great caution, lest they should come in ha
idental contact with one of these terrific Lii
nstefs: del
o important discoveries, however, were made SD
eptng several other trails of the same kind ab'
that leading to the water-hoe, all of which ct
al. II |