Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-11-09
a Snake Story.

On Saturday last we were asked by
Mr.. Jonathan Fulford if we had
"heard about the snakes" Wehadn't,
and he proceeded to tell us a story that
we at first thought incredible, but
which we were at last fam to believe,
and which we now know to be true
having seen the horrid sight, and can
youch with sworn affidavit if neces-
sary, as, can others who may have. Wis
tied the scene within the past two
weeks, as to the truth of what we
have to relate.
On the I'd inst, toward evening, a
young son of Mr.. A. Thompson, who
lives about eight and half miles
from town southwark, was passing
over a hill on the farm of Mr.. Gibbs
Myers, a neighbor. in quest of his
fathers cattle, when he accidentally
stepped into small hole, and drawing
his leg out quickly drew with it
several serpents. The sight frightened
the lad, and he ran home with all
speed and reported his experience. He
soon returned, however, with another
lad, and found that the hilltop was the
home Of a community of crawling
reptiles, and before they left the spot
they had dispatched forty-siX.
The matter was now reported among
the neighbors, and on the following
day Messrs. j. Fulford, I. r. Graves
and B. Bessee went to the place indi-
Gated, and began a war upon the SER
penis, finding that the hole into which
the boy had stepped was the resort of
hundreds of these snakes, and that the
hilltop was literally alive with
them" They dug down to crevice
between two upright stones about two
feet below the surface, and then
fought for hours, killing hundreds, and
still apparently making not the least
diminution in their numbers.
Day after day this work went on,
until last Sunday, the dead snakes
were picked up and counted and placed
in pile near the mouth of the den.
The number of 1,776 was counted,
and still the work. of killing goes on
from day to day. We went to the
place on Monday, accompanied by L.
IL. Smyth, and the astonishing sight
Of near 1000 snakes in one pile met
our gaze, with live ones still in appar-
entity undiminished numbers upon the
hill. We killed fifteen in as many
minutes and had enough, while two
little lads were all the time at work.
And the work of killing has been go
ing on ever since, until now we hear
that about 5000 have been dispatched,
and there are hundreds, perhaps thou
sands, left. = -. 81 Wa
H. The snakes are of the species called
the blue racer, with a sprinkling of
adders,' and vary in size from the
thickness of a mans finger to that of
his wrist, and in length from foot to
four or five feet. They run with re-
markable speed, and at first were cow
ardly, endeaYoring to escape, and not
much disposed to show fight. They
are now, however, becoming vicious,
and show fight, and at times get start
lingly aggressive.
A reasonable theory is that the hole
leads to a cavern somewhere in the
| depths Of the hill, where there are
many thousands, possibly, of writhing
serpents; and that these have gathered
here from all directions for a winter
residence. Some think that they are
| poisonous ;.others that they are harm
less. except the ''hissing adders,"
which are, doubtless, venomous. At
all events, Mr.. Graves informs us that
three horses that had grazed upon the
| hill during the g raid have had sew
eral spells of sickness. -Coacord5a
(Kaa.) Empire. ,tF sE
GRAPES for the wine press are sold
| in SOnOma Comfy California far,