Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-06-14
Great Ruasselville Snake.


which we think worth recording. In July last
there was great excitement in and about Russell
vile, in this State, on account of the reported ap
pearance in that neighborhood, of an immense
snake, which had been seen at different times by
various creditable witnesses. The favo1iis haunts
OF his snakeship, were pond and briar patch
some two miles from Russelville, on the farm of
an old gentleman, who was much annoyed by vis-
itants in quest of fish and blackberries. Various
and contradictory reports were related, as to the
descriptions size, &C., of the monster some CIV
ing 1t as their opinion that it was the veritsble
sea-serpent. which was making tour of the con-
tinent, while others were sure it was dry land
reptile ofthe rattle breed, as they had heard the
shaking of its mighty tail hundreds of miles off.
Some contended that it was as long as a clothes
line and big as yearling calf, while others of
less vivid Imagination represented i, as not more
than sixteen feet long and three feet in crcumfer-
ence. A hunter had gone in pursu, of him, and
returned without his dog, whom it was supposed
snakey had taken down. A young negro had
been missed from the neighborhood, and it was
firmly believed he had followed the footsteps of
Pointer.
AS might be supposed these rumors spread
with rapdity and created great terror in the minds
of the Russelylians, they declared a crusade
against the serpentile intruder, and resolved to
head him die Traps were set, and snares
laid to catch him, but all in vain And at length
one day, two negroes, who had been in search of
the monster discovered him lying across fence
near his favorite blackberry patch, which he
seemed to guard with as much interest as if he
was the owner thereof. One of the darkies, feel
ing probably that familiarity breeds contempt
kept long way off, and raising his gun fired and
fell back. The other having more nerve, ap-
preached within some twenty yards and let off
his double barrel, which took effect in the reptiles
head. They Immediately put off to town to re-
late their achievement and procure horse and
cart to carry the carcase away.-Sam proceeded
at once to the most popular hotel, and to gap
ing and delighted auditory, proclaimed his victory
over the terror of the neighborhood, and his re-
ception, as the novelist say may be better imag-
ined than described Wellington fresh from
Waterloo, or Hyer after his fight with Sullivan
was no more lionized than Sam was at Russevie
hotel. He lnvigorated the internal man with fre-
quent bations, and then with horse and cart, fol-
lowed by numerous inhabitants, on foot and on
horseback proceeded in quest of the spoils of his
victory. Sam reached the place first, and un-
coied the snake from the fence-the citizens gath
| cred around, and began minute inspection Of
the monster.--About this time horrid oath burst
from Sam-a general roar Of laughter arose from
the crowd-and the tempest in teapot had
exploded. The wonderful and terrifying monster,
was made Of striped muslin, stuffed ,onh iran and
shavings, and painted to life.
| The counterfeit snake was an ingenious piece
of workmanship, and reflects credit upon the me-
chancal ingenuity of the owner of the land
whose receipts from fish and blackberries, last
summer, exceeded any previous year. Sam still
declares the muslin sarpint,' is not the one he
killed, but that swop had been made during his
absence.--Lou. Cour.