Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-06-23
SNAKES IN MISSOURI.

SNAKES IN MISSOURI.
A Den OF Nearly Two Hundred Bro
ken Up--A Negro Surrounded b.
Reptiles.
Two sons of Mr.. Jason Smith, who
lives a dozen miles from Fayctte, Mo
recently, in exploring a ravine neal
his house, discovered a snake den, in
which were ia black snakes all
knotted together, one garter snake
two house snakes and two moccasins
When the snakes were first dug out
they were torpid, but the sun soon
enlivencd the mass of black snakes,
and the farmers who had gathered to
see the sight were forced to use hoes,
hatchets, axes, etc, to put an end to
them.
Mr.. Lee Wright, who lived a few
miles east of this place, last fall hired
a negro to clean out well which
had not been used for some time. He
had lowered the negro to the bottom
of the we'll in tub, and was turning
away when he heard piercing yell.
Looking into the well he saw a null
titude of snakes along the rocky walls
reaching out their long heads. The
negro below could see their glisten-
ing eyes. He screamed and prayed
and Topped around in the tub and
asked to be drawn up.
Mr.. Wright began to wind up the
windlass, and the negro was pulled
up through the bundle of protrudlng
snakes heads. In his excitement he
shook the rope, which swayed the tub
to and fro, SO that he was thrown un-
comfortably near the reptiles. When
he jumped out he was covered with
cold perspiration, and his body trem-
bled like leaf. He spread the story
of his adventure, and no one could be
hired to clean the we'll Mr.. Wright
concluded to remove the rock and fill
it up, and last week when the work
was begun the snakes began to show
themselves. Before ten feet of the
rock had been removed seventy-four
of the blackers, from two to six feet
long, were killed. Then the we'll
caved in, and the rest were buried.
A Defnese OF the Coaching Expert
ment.
From Appleton's Journal.
A western journal characterizes
Col. Kane's coaching experiment as
"the latest New York foolery." Why
"toolery?" we beg to inquire. Does
the envlous editor mean to say that
fresh air and swift motion are things
which wise generation should not
delight in? Has he really never ex-
perienced the charms of a ride upon
the outside of a coach, when the roads
have been fine, the prospects pleas
ing, the company good, the speed
swift and exhilerating? IF not, he
has missed one very good and stirring
sensation, and he has evidently for
gotten the thrill of delight with which
when a boy he watched the mail
coach come rafting in to his village.
The attempt to revive health-giving
recreation of the old times is very
far, indeed, from being foolish, and
our western friend, instead of envi-
ously grudging us this small pleasure,
would do better to urge his towns
people to initiate our example. There
is no reason why every Americican
city should not have similar coaches,
by means of which its citizens mi ght
enjoy suburban rides under the very
best conditions for health and pleas
ure. The experiment in New York,
which simply repeats here one of the
acknowledged attractions of London,
is made by gentleman of wealth
and leisure, who can afford, it is said,
to lose money in the qualification of
his inclinations. We hope he will
make money, inasmuch as it is only
by its being rendered profitable that
we can hope for the permanency of
lis enterprise, or look to see other
coach lines established. One coach
per day is clearly not enough for the
many who really must desire to avail
themselves of an opportunity to en-
Joy mode Of locomotion which is
second to horseback-riding only in
stirring and health-giving qualities.
Tho Foppish and Frivolous Preach
err
De Witt Talmage.
He has a handsome foot or hand,
or thinks he has. 1t is evident from
his gait and appearance that he re-
ceived most of his inspiration from
the tailor. His glove fits SO we'll
that it seems to have grown on, his
boot as if made on the last of the last
fashion. His hair twists rs though
he had been under curling irons.-
From his gesticulations you know
he has practiced them before the
mirror. He prides himself on be-
ing lady's man, and looks SO sweet
Gaughter) and has the appearance
of one of Godey's fashion plates.-
AS he takes out his handkerchief to
wipe away tear in the midst of his
sermon the fabric drops of musk and
patchouly, and "balm" of a thousand
flowers and "kiss me quick" p
Naughter.) He is stick of ecclesi-
astical candy-a moral peppermint
a religious chocolate drop. Iaugh-
ter) He takes his text from the
most luscious part of Solomon's
song, and llthps in manner thweet
beyond description! cloud laughter.)
He has diamond ring on two ting-
ers and glittering stud in his SHIRT
bosom. He sucks a sugar plum
while the collection is being taken
up Qaughter) and though not short
sighted at all, has his glasses astride
his nose, lifts the hymn book fantas-
tically, and reads,
There is = land of pu ah- delight,
Where saints immawtal reign"
Uaugnter.) 1t would take about
sixty of them to equal one decent
dollbaby. After hearing such a
young man preach, an old clergyman
arose iu the pulpit to make the con-
cluding prayer, and said, ooh Lord
bless this young man and make his
heart as his head" Uaughter.)
A Brides Request.