The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-21
The Triune Monster-The Snake Reality
The Monster Shot Dead by his Fursuers-
Heis to be Presented to Andrew johnson
by his Capt0rs.
Correspondence Of the Nashville Banr err ]

] wrote you on the Sth instant that the serpent
had broked the box and cleared for the woods.
This created great deal Of CONSERVATION in the
community, and all lay low until toward evening,
when the neighbors got together and devised some
means 10 put an end to him. On close exami-
nation of the box it was discovered they had put
a defective plank in it, it being windshaken from
one end to the other, and thus, when the captive
began to surge, he soon started this plank, and
able to break out. The hole in the ground was
now securely stopped and every one present de.
termined to make il their business to hunt him up
and destroy hin. They felt it necessary for their
safety. Strong bands well armed went together
and secured the woods, beat the thickets and
searched closely every where until they began to
despair of success. But when they least looked
for it fortune smiled upon their efforts. Some
mile and half or two miles from the den live a
Mr.. Isaac Nelly and a Mr.. Irvine, close neighbors
Yesterday morning Mr.. Nelly walked over to Mr..
Irvines carrying with him his gun, an Enfield
rife. Finding Mr.. Irvine in his field, nearly at the
top Of the hill, at work, he called TO him. and Mr.
Irvine and he seated themselves on the fence,
with their guns flor no man now went without
one) near them. Mr.. lrvine's was common
squirrel rife. They had talked some time here
when they became aware Of peculiarly musky
oder pervadiDg the air. They had felt il at first,
but it did not excite their attention until it be-
came sckening in its power. Mr.. Nelly looked
around unconsciously to see what could produce
it, and there within sixty yards of them and just
above, lay the serpent, the object of their dread.
Their first impulse was to run, but after they had
invountarily jumped from the fence they thought
better of il, and like true men, as they are, they
determined to fire on it. They laid their guns
carefully on the fence, the snake never moving,
and taking deliberate ann, fred at his head. At
the crack Of the guns an awful crashing and slash
ing was heard, and believing the awful creature
was upon them they threw away their guns and
fed for dear life, nor did they stop until they
reached the house.
The country was quickly alarmed, and after
good deal of careful accommodating, the spot was
had 10 End tha m y
behind such great trail of blood they knew he
was badly wounded Without difficulty they fol-
lowed this trail, and did not proceed more than
two hundred yards down beside the fence before
they espied him, perfectly limp and dead. But it
took several shots from a distance 70 convince
them of this before they dared approach.
The Struggle where the monster was shot must
have been terrific, for large bushes were beat to
had dashed it with bis tail. Great credit is due to
the intrepdity Of the gentlemen who shot him, for
few would have dared it.
MIR. Irvine quickly brought pair Of mules to
drag him of. but when the mules caught sight OF
the huge animal they became so frightened moth
ing could hold them, and they broke and tore away
like mad. By this time great many people had
collected and they tied chain around his neck
with running moose, and dragged him through
the field to the big road. They now found
couple of strong horses gentle enough, and they
with these determined to carry him to Nolensville,
it being the nearest point on the pike. Hearing Of
these circumstances, /, in company with Mr.. Ben
Johnson of this place, started for the scene OF ac-
ton. When near Mr.. Bttocks's we met with
Esquire Green, going to the same point. We had
not gone far before we hove in sight, and here we
met with q very serious accident, for no sooner
| had our horses caught sight Of the huge body OF
| the serpent, than they began TO plunge at such
fearful rate as to throw all three OF Us. Mr. John
son and myself sustaining no injury, but Esquire
Green received severe disiocstion OF the ankle,
| that will probably lame him for life.
hn1 oil N
| question arose. what will we do with II! We
we're anxious to take il to Nashville just as 1t lay,
| but the carcass would, we knew, become very Of
| fensiye from the great heat of the weather. so
at last twas agreed to skin him, and after stunning
| and drying take him down to the city for inspec'
| ton. took good survey OF him and found his
length not so great as we had imagined, for he
was Just twenty nine feet eight inches from tip TO
/ tip. His greatest circumference was thirty and
half inches, and he was just seventeen lnches
| around the neck, or rather just behind the head.
About ten feet of his tail had spinous ridge like
| that of an alligator. Hishead was the most Tor
midable part about him, and was truiy terrible 20
| behold, even when dead. 1t was fully twenty
| inches across end was armed with the mostIormld
able sat of sharp small teeth with four large tusks
II had hole in il, Just under the right eye, nom
| the minnie ball, and dent in his neck from the
| clancipQ ball of Mr.. Irvine. Although he seemed
AZ short distance 10 be Of uniform dark color.
| on close inspection discovered he was spotted
like rattle. snake, in diamond spots, and his belly
was of bright blush black color: we cut MN
across the middle, and skinned nm oo.n way ,nI
| TINS preserving the head whole. 1t was then wei
sailed and lined, and the ends were well sewec
together. and then by inserting Mr.. Simpsons bel
lows, we inflated the monster to its full SIZE: =,
We will let 1t dry in this nx ana snen sun an
| with saw-dust. And now comes the pest OF all.
There are so many shares in it its captors have
agreed to make q present of It to Andrew Jonn
| SON. This determination was arrived az IN IN
face Of very liberal offer sent Tor II Dy Messrs
| wall 3 Handy. of Franklin, Now, In order to pa.
expenses there, as soon as it is in travelling con
dition, il will be exhibited in all the large ciue
between here and Washington, commencing i
Nashville the first Of next week. J.L SCALES