The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-09-27
Michigan Snake.L0re.

CdgO xNGT.OCEUN, lIOu OdUlc MUM,
Mich, Aug. 30, tells about michigan
snake. and other snakes that have ap-
peared to the Michiganders Mt various
times"
A report having appeared in the Inter
Ocean of huge snake which has lately
been seen in Recess Woods, about two
miles west of this city, brief account OF
some of these large reptiles which have
at long intervals and at different periods
made their appearance in this section of
this State may not be uninteresting to the
numerous readers of this paper. Your
correspondent, upon inquiry, has been
made acquainted with many interesting
the snake family, which have been seen
in this part of Michigan, and perhaps this
communication may elicit reports from
others in the State who have personal
knowledge of any remarkable specimens.
The monstrous snakes alluded to in this
article are undoubtedly those which have
survived the inevitable destruction which
the almost universal aversion to such rep
tiles deals out whenever encountered by
man. The theory of the "survival of the
fittest" is perhaps we'll illustrated in these
instances, where, by attaining to a great
age, they have acquired such huge pro-
portion, and this does not seem confined
to any particular species. About twenty
five years ago a farmer brought into this
city monster which he had killed in
some woods. 1t was of a mQttled color
black, white and yellow. I am unable to
slate its exact length, but was informed
by the farmer that, as it laid extended on
the bottom of his wagons its tail hung over
the rear end-board nearly to the ground,
while its head was close to the front
board, and its body as large as q mans
thigh. A we'll known gentleman of this
city, in conversation q few days since,
casually related his experience in snake
killing, which is both thrilling and inter-
esting. He and another gentleman, who
now resides in Kalamazoo. some twenty
years ago were driving in a buggy through
some woods east of this city, and all at
once their horse snorted with fear and re-
fused to 90 forward. Upon looking
around for the cause of his sudden fright,
they observed what looked like q black
ened rail stretched across the road some
twenty yards distant, which, by its mo-
tons, they at once made out to be snake
of huge proportions. After turning their
horse around and securing him, they
armed themselves with the longest clubs
they could find at hand, and advanced
on the enemy's works." He seemed TO be
in a sluggish, half-stupid condition, and
not disposed to escape, but their fast and
powerful blows aroused him to defense,
which he attempted in vain effort to coil
around them, but his broken back disa-
bled him, and, after repeated blows upon
the head, he finally surrendered. This
was q huge black snake, and in length
reached from the horses head to the rear
of the hind wheel, and 30 heavy that he
was good load for two men to drag
away. At different times in later years
some of these OvergrOwn monsters have
been seen in this section. but very seldom
captured. Not many years since q
gentleman now residing in this city saw a
large one in some woods, and about two
years ago one was seen on farm some
three miles west of the city; and the one
lately seen in Reece's Woods, which was
reported in the Inter Ocean of Aug. "a, is
very likely the one that has been prowling
around in that neighborhood, and made
his headquarters in these woods for many
years, and which has been the occasion Of
much commotion of late. Attempts are
now being made to capture this monster
alive, and if the efforts prove successful
he would make such "b0nanza" as is
not often "struck" in these parts, as he
would doubtless bring q large sum for
some museum or menagerie. He has
lately been seen by. two or three different
parties residing in the neighborhood. An
employee on the Reece farm, who first saw
him, has given me an interesting account
of his first sight of the monster. He was
driving team OF horses through field of
stubble, from which crop Of oats had
lately been cut, when his horses seemed to
be suddenly paralyzed with fear. and tried
to wheel around. He soon. discovered the
cause Of their alarm in huge black snake,
several yards in front, moving with his
head elevated foot or more from the
ground, and giving him fair view Of the
monster. He estimated his length to he
owe. twelve feet, and his body six to eight
inches in diameter; and where he had
crossed the burrows, in newly plowed
ground, he left q track Of considerable
depth and breadth. Another person, who
has seen him, agrees very nearly with this
description. The snake seems to have
made hishome under some large powders.