The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-03-02
A Snake Thirty Eight Feet
Long Captured In Kansas.


Readers ofthe public press will re-
member correspondence that ap.
pcarod in one Of the Leavenworth
papers in July, 1869, giving a some
what detailed account of q monster
snake that had it's abiding place in
some of the hollow places or cav
orns that exist under tho mound at
Fredonla. Tho snake had boon
seen on several occasions; and at
one time, as it lay coiled up in the
sun, presented heap as big around
and w high rs q whisky barrel.
Its skin and spots glistened
in the sun, and, on being shot
at, rapidly unwound itself, and
with head raised from Eve
to seven feet, escaped into ITS den.
1t was seen several times subsequent
Iy, but could never be captured, altho'
numerous attempts to capture the
monster has been made. Several
sheep and three sucking calves
mysteriously disappeared around the
mound, and tho general conceived
opinion was that thoy had fallen a
prey to the monster. The mound,
from August, 1869, to about the LIST
inst. came to be regarded with fear,
and was avoided on particularly hot
days as dangerous place.
Our readers will remember that
the first few days of the present
month were unusually warm, and
one of these days his snak eship came
out from his subteranian abode and
stretched himself for January sun
ming; but the day proved too cool
tor his comfort, and while in q semi
torpid condition he was discovered
and captured. by actual measure
ment, it was thirty-seven feet and
nine inches in length, and around its
thickest part measured forty-three
inches. 1t was of a peculiar spotted
color, between a blue and black
with deep, dark yellow spots aud
largo scales. After it was captured,
Drs. Upton and Barrett had the
monster skinned and stuffed, and
forwarded to Woods Museum Chi.
cago.
This is snake story, but q true
one, and if any of our readers ever
visit Woods Museum, if they will
enquire for tho Twin Mound (Kan.
sas) snake, they may rest assured
they will be shown the monsters
skin. 1t is there, a stuffed reality.
Representatives of the North
western States think that the settle
mant of our claims will involve the
cession to the United States of the
British country lying northwest of
Lake Superior, and that tho flag of
England will very shortly disappear
from this continent. This surmise
has commercial rs we'll AZ political
significance. With the cession of
British America fades away the
last apprehension that any trans-
continental railway will over be
built northward Of the North Pacific.
Whom the Southern Pacific has
had its equal rights with the Union
and North, and each section of the |
country has been fairly and evenly |
dealt with, Congress is done with
land grants. Even did the topogro-
ply Of the English territories permit |
is, this change of title will remove
the last possibility Of the building of |
y Pacific road acrses their stretch,
and the great valleys of the Saskat-
chowan, Columbia and Red rivers
IRE absolutely secured as tributaries
and dependencies of the North Pa
citic, to hold TO itself, its heirs and
assigns forever.
The Boston Herald tolls tho fol-
owing good ono "a little fellow
was begging for cold vittles' at
house ut tho South End, excit-
ng the interest of the young IL.
lies Of tho family by his pileous
story OF want and destitu-
ion, and among other questions
put by these warm-hearted aud
inquircra, was one
~ to his parents. .sMy father is sick
'bed, and has been for many woeks,"
aid the boy. How is your mother"
4 never had a mother, he blubbereJ
tut. "Ah, how was that p he waa
'sked. "Why, my father camo IL
mean trick over ono Of my aunts,"
vas the reply, accompanied by a
resh flow Of tears