The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-12-22

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EDITORS HERALD-Dcar SrS AS
am a constant reader Of the COLUMBIA
HERALD, / of course saw the notice 0
w. X. III. MATTHEWS snake trap, anC
as am a citizen of his vicinity. | shall
attempt to give your readers a descrip
ton of the Blowing Cave" and also
some curious facts connected with it,
In this neiyhborhood we call it the
Blowing Spring" This spring is on
the southern extremity Of Mr.. SILAs l..
NEACH's farm, and comes out at the
base OF very high hill, which is one OF
a continuous range of hills forming the
Elk ridge chain, or dividing line be-
tween Maury and Giles, known TO be
the highest hills in Maury. They are
also known as the fayOrite haunt of the
rattlesnake. The GLOWING Spring" is
very large stream of water, and is
very clear, aud pure, ana cool. The
hill above the spring is 50 steep that it is
almost impossible to climb it. Some
eight or nine feet above the spring, is
the cave or hole, about ten inches in di-
ameter. This hole has never been ex
plored by any human being. Out of this
hole in the summer, there is always a
strong, cool breeze blowing, which is
very pleasant TO the weary hunter. A
sickly, nervous sensation always creeps
over him who dares to approach too
near, and he never wants TO repeat the
experiment. These facts have remained
a mystery to all until last fall, just be-
fore frost, when party of hunters,
stopped TO slake their thirst at this
spring. After resting awhile, they
started northeast course through a
field OF corn, cultivated by Mr.. ROBT.
CLARK. The corn had been laid by, and
the grass was nearly knee high. Near
the centre of the field they were sur
prised TO find a trail some Six inches
broad, and the grass meshed flat, show
ing that some heavy body had recently
been hauled or dragged along. They
followed this tail until they became
satisfied that it was the trail of an enOy-
nous snake; and also that it was
poisonous snake from the crookedness
of the trail; for all who are in any way
acquainted with snakes, know that a
poisonous one crawls slower than any
other, and the slower they crawl tho
crookeder the trail. After the hunters
became satisfied OF this fact, they moved
very cautiously, until they came to an
open or barren place in the field utterly
destitute of vegetation. Here the mon
ster seems to have stopped to rest, or
sun himself, for the imprint was very
plain in the dust, giving his fun length
and size. Where his tail had laid IN lie
dust, they discovered marks like tho
print of a chain, showing him TO be
RATHER Of the largest size. In the dust
could he counted plainly the print Of
forty-nine rattles and button. The
length of the rattles was lust twelve 4
inches, showing that this monster Wa .
at least fifty years old-for we NJ! know
rattlesnakes make rattIe for ever;
year they are Old. The track also show .
ell that his snakeship WAS az ic...
twelve feet long. Knowing the rlmrr- f
dous thickness Of this snake compared .
its length, this is 10y far tie largest ono .
of the kind ever heard Of. The breadth f.
OF track was six inches. Allowing this F.
to be one-fourth the size. we have q .
snake measuring tweEty-fJUr inches. .
which is rather small FOR the length.
After they had followed the trail up,
they found the abode u! his snakeehIp to F.
be in the Blowing Cave" and the .
smallnesS of his body, compared with .
his length. is accounted Tor from the .
fact of his habitually crawling through /
a hole smaller, by some inches, THAI hi /
body. However, the hunters may b, .
deceived about the size of the snake. /
am forced to the belief that the L" Blow
ing Cave" has long been the abode of .
this terrible monster, for numerous
swine have ranged aboutthis spring and I.
leaving no trace, and sew
Iai SSaillI5 caves nave lOalilcQ IN tldL
but never returned. The ter
ribly sickening breath of the caye a
tests the tact that it can be none other
I han the home OF this royal snako. We
are thankful 10 know that one of Our
citizens has prepared box 50 strong
and cunuingly made, and so fixed at
the mouth Of the hole that if his royal
ever does come forth again,
he will surely be captured. Then you
may expect grand treat or show, gratis,
in Columbia. This is not 4 "Triune
Snake" story. Any one who doubts
this has only to come to Southport, and
they will flEd mon who will not only
vouch for all ! have said, but will 90
with them and show the box and the
spring. Let them 500 the great " Blow
ing Caye," and experience the effect of
its breath on them, and be convinced.
NJ.