The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-25
Tho Big Snake Story for the season OF
n. r 81. II 1675.-NeXtl +..s

which has been seen several times near
Halls Springs, Nd, and recently it con.
tanned statement of an attempt to cap.
ture the reptile. 1t says:
Several parties have been organized in
the city for the purpose of hunting his
snakeship, but most Of them, on going
out to Halls Springs and hearing the
marvellous stories told about the serpent,
concluded that discretion was the better
part of valor, and that they would let
him severely alone. They were told that
the snake was fully 16 feet long, and that
he could swallow calf several weeks old;
that four-year-old child would only
make half a meal for him that he
could travel faster than the Aeetest horse
in the country, and that when in pursuit
of an object he could shoot over an ordi.
nary country fence or stone wall with as
much ease as he could make his own wav
through the grass. In fact, the most
wonderful stories are told about this
snake, and it is safe to say that in a
months time his size will have increased
in the minds Of many of the excited dcni-
zens of Hartford road to at least 30 feet
in length, and that he will be fully able
to swallow a whole cow, horns and all.
without any choking.
On Saturday there were rumors in Bal
timore that the snake had been caught
and had afterwards made his escape. The
runors were tracked to the Baltimore
corn and flour exchange, of which Mr..
Lee, of Messrs. Lee & Shaw, is member.
Mr.. Lee is the owner of the Olive
mill, situated short distance be-
You'd Halls Springs. This gentleman re-
sides near the mill, and a reporter of
The American, visited him yesterday for
the purpose of ascertaining the very latest
concerning the snake. MIR. Lee stated
that the snake had been captured in a
trap on Friday night or Saturday MORN
ing. and had freed himself from the trap
on account Of his great size and strength
by breaking portion of the top of. He
accompanied the reporter to where the
trap was set. On Saturday morning af-
ter the escape of the snake the trap was
reconstructed. It is now about l8 feet in
length. The sides are made of boards
l Ia inches in thickness, while the top
and bottom are made Of strips Of the
same material and thickness. These
strips, which are about inches in width,
arc nailed firmly on, and around the
whole have been placed pieces of
thick hoop.iron. The opening is four.
teen inches square, being sufficiently
large to admit the snake, which is sup
posed to be about eight inches in diam
eter and two feet in circumference. In
one end of the trap there is door slid
ing up and down in grooves. This door
is kept open by means Of lever which
works on pivot and is attached to a
trigger. In passing down the trap to Sc
cure the chicken, the snake will touch
the trigger, when down comes the door
and he is a prisoner. It was in this man
ner that he was caught on Saturday
morning, but finding himself imprisoned,
he got his back up. so to speak, and three
or four of the Stats composing the top
few off and the snake was once more
free.
Mr.. Lee says he visited the trap about
$50 Saturday mording, when he was at
once convinced that from it's condition
the snake had been in it during the night
or morning. Besides the fact of the top
Of the trap being broken, there were two
distinct tracks along the ground, mark
ing the ingress and egress of the
snake. At about eight o'clock the
same morning a colored man
walking down the path OH Mr.. Lees
place encountered the snake, which was
lying costly on the race bank. The COL
ored man did not stay long enough to get
IN accurate idea Of the size Of the snake,
which will account for his statement that
the body of the snake was as thick as a
-four barrel and 20 feet in length. The
snake had not been seen before that
morning for two weeks. He is supposed
to reside on a small island, which is COW
cred with dense underground, and is
situated about a stones throw above the
Olive mill, on the east bank of Herring
run. He has been seen going in that d.
rection. Mr.. Linhardt, Mr.. Lees miller
it is alleged, has seen the snake several
times. A laborer named Thomas Rickert,
who was fishing on the dam several days
ago, also encountered his snakeship, who
raised his head and stuck out his forked
tongue. Rickert flew from the spot and
was unable to work for two weeks after
ward.
Mr.. Lee considers the snake harmless
until attacked. lie is very DESTROYS of
him alive, and would give $500,
or even more, to any one who would
bring about this result. The new trap is
like the old one, with the exception that
it is bound with hoop-iron. The talk &C.
casioncd by the reports about the wonder.
full snake has deferred many persons, it
is understood, from visiting Halls
Springs woods, well known place for
holding picnics. There is no danger
whatever Of a visit of the snake to any
part of these woods, as he does not go
but short distance from his island home.
Passcnoers on the cars Hesterd:x to