The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-07-30
4 shower OF Snakes.


In addition to the details heretofore
given, we have information from reli-
able citizen Of great damage at Taylor
vile. The storm burst in its full fury
at that place about dark, and the rain
fell in torrents. The electric storm pres.
ented the same features as here. The
wind, however, was more violent, and
without intermission blew in great
strength from every direction. Several
buildings were damaged, and young
hickory trees actually twisted off by the
wind. The growing crops were pros
trated by the wind, and beaten into the
ground by the rain and hail. But the
most singular phenomenon, and one
whichwas not vouchsafed TO any other
community,was shower of snakes. We
have heretofore read Of showers of sand,
Of fish, and sometimes offlesh, but nev-
er before of a shower of snakes; and yet
we are well assured that the phenome.
non which occurred on last Friday night
can be described in no more fitting
terms.
On Saturday and Sunday last, every
ditch, brook and pool on the prairie
north of Taylorville was alive with
nondescript creatures, which have been
described to us as being from one and a
half to two feet long,an of three -fourths
of an inch to an inch in diameter. This
diameter is very slightly lessened at the
haoh opd toll Tho toll ;O aat lilo that
Ofan eel, but has no caudal fin; indeed,
there is no fin at all. The head is in shape
that of an eel, but the mouth is that of
a sucker. The eyes are small and the
ears are simply oritices. Immediately
behind the head, on each side, is flip
per, like that of a turtle, say three
fourths of an inch to an inch in length,
including the limb, which has perfect
ly developed joint. In color, these
snakes, or whatever they are, are of
dark hue.
The number of these creatures is be-
yOnd all estimate. They swim in every
branch and puddle of water. Their mode
of progression, in addition to the un-
dulatory motion of snake in the water
is by the use of the flipper described
above, and they swim entirely under
the water or with the head and few
inches of the body above the surface,
thus indicating that the flippers are not
absolutely essential to motion. They
are perfectly harmless. Boys and men
take them from the pools in hundreds,
and they are brought to town for IN
spection.
We are willing to admit that our
knowledge of ichthyology is not suffi-
cient to determine what they are. Eels
have teeth, are carniverous, and some
species are very voracious and belliger
ent. These creatures are of the genus
evelopterus or suckers, having no teeth
and are evidently unprepared for attack
and except by flight are defenceless
Furthermore, they have no fins, and
their fiippers are only adjuncts, and moi
their principal means Of progression
They are not serpents as they want
fangs, either hooded or naked, which
invariably distinguish the order o
ophidians.
We will not worry our readers with
any speculation on subject confessedly
beyond our knowledge. We are prom
ised some specimens, which will be sub
mitted to naturalists of acknowledged
ability, whose opinions we shall lay be
fore the public.
1t is the universal testimony of al
the people of the country that no crea
ture anything like those was ever be
fore seen by them. The size renders i
certain that they have not been devel
oped there, as it is practically impossi
ible that they could have grown to tina
size without having been seen. 1t i
quite cert ain they were never befor
the storm, and it is almost equally Ger
tain the storm brought them there
This storm, which passed over so larg,
an extent of country, and was so vic
lent, undoubtedly gathered, as do mos
ofsuch storms, in the vast plains.of tn
passing through the country, disturbe
: the usual atmospheric and electrical con
ditions, so as to produce, in addition +
the central tornado,a high wind, heav.
rain and an electrical storm. The mos
plausible theory which occurs to us q
accounting for the presence Of thes
fishes, is that the tornado in passin
over some lake or river in the immens
unknown region of the north west, ,dreN
up water, and with it these animals
which are evidently amphibious. Th
tornado then sped on its mission of des
truction, passing perhaps miles abov
the earth, and occasionally, as at Ship
man, striking the earth. Near Taylor
Vile the central body of the storm wa
4, dissipated, as shown by the fact tbs
. the wind blew in gusts from all dire
tions, and these creatures fell to til
l earth to astonish the peopleand perple
/, the ientific.-HtinoiS State hegiSte
June |.
@ WATERING THE Cow.-During Il
y Atlanta campaign one of our General
i being rather unwell, was fearful Of
@ bilious attack, owing, as he suppose
D to the too free use of coffee. The con