The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-09-07

THE LATEST SNAhE STOkIES.
4 Monster Over sizty Feet Long and y
DoabIs -header-A Collection of sD3 Rat
tIes-A Rattlesnake seven Feet Long
Killed ~ = 10 ycar-oid Giri-Whisky aud
Its Use Ia snake Kites.
PoRr JERvis, N. r., Aug. 20.-Har-
r;son Van Deuzer and Dan Tompkins
haul cordwood over the Monticello
Turnpike, between that place and Wurts-
boro. On Saturday. rs they were jog
ging along by McMunn's, three miles
from Wurtsboro, three big rattlesnakes
Law coiled up in the middle Of the road,
and set up chorus that made the
teamsters stop. A stone thrown mt the
rattlers drove them into the woods. It's
bad luck to let "A rattlesnake get away
from you. A Sullivan County noun
taineer would sooner miss circus than
90 home and say that he had seen rat
tesnake and then couldn't pull its rat
ties out Of his pocket TO prove IL. So
Tompkins and Van Deuzer left their
teams and followed the snakes. The
rattcrs led them chase Of two miles.
but the excitement that followed paid
for il. The men had been taken plumb
to Matt. Talmagc's famous den. The
snakes lay about in scores, taking in the
merry sunshine, and regretting that the
huckleberry pickers had all left the
woods. This was picnic Van Dcuzer
and Tompkins had not hoped for. They
got clubs and went at the snakes. The
night lasted about ten minutes. More
than half the best ones got away and
hid in the assures OF the rocks. But the
-. 4 q l.... - -
fair specimens. Some Of the snakes
they killed were three feet long They
took home 1873 rattles, and expect 10 get
al at least four gallons of oil for lini-
ment This den was favoritc one Of
the celebrated snake-catchcr, Matt. Tai
mage. He used 10 take hundreds out Of
il, alive. He lived it Wurtsboro, and a
rattlesnake bite never had any effect on
him. He followed snake-breeding, and
he had some Of the most curious and
rare specimens of the snake family ever
collected. In 1873 he captured large
pilot or copperhcad. He made great
pet Of II, but finally it bit him on the
thumb. lie paid no attention 10 il, al
though pilots bite is especially dread
ed, being very deadly. Talmagc's
thumb began To swell after some days.
His arm then commenced getting larger,
and by and BY he got blind. and suffer
ed untold agony. He lived several
weeks, continuing 10 swell all over, and
at last he died. His den has, probably,
not been visited before since his death.
--Neu York Sun.
HAYWOOD, ONT, Aug. lO.-The most
intense excitement has been created
here BY the appearance Of monster in
the waters Of our lake, which, according
TO the description given Of it by those
who have seen IL, rivals any Of the spec
linens Of the great sea serpent. Two
American gentlemen were out yesterday
on fishing excursion, and when of
Whites Island they noticed an unusual
commotion in the water locking toward
the north shore. Their surlnises and
doubts were soon set at rest on discov.
ering the undulating portions Of the
body Of q monster which was making III
way up the lake toward HARDWOOD. The,
at once gave chase. and were rapid,
gaining on the creature when their cours
age was tested by the monster turning
around and making directly for them
The view they had Of il at this junctur,
was the best they obtained of it, and il
j. described by them a having hcas
almost like that 81 horse. but twice a,
long, eyes fierce and glaring. the colo
Of the skin dark gray, the gullet pink
and having large but apparently sof
fins or long hair along its back 50 far n
about II feet Of the animals body, but
think il must be over 60 feet long The,
succeeded in reaching Idyl Wild. III
monster having disappeared before the.
got 70 the shore. This was about
o'clock in the morning. At ! o'clocl
two ladies and two gentlemen standing
on the piazza Of the Lake View Hous'
saw the monster pass the north side o
Tick Island going in the direction o
Spoke Island. With good oper,
glass they were enabled 10 notice NOR
accurately the movements Of the mon
ster serpent. for such now II appeare'
~ be. and in short time II had passe,
behind spoke Island and made direct
" for the mouth If the Otanabec, bu
disappeared suddenly when in that par
Of the lake which i considered the rive
channel. and has not since been see
from here. Capt. Brady got his yacht
the Slug, under way az once and cruis
ed around the islands for some time
but could discover nothing Of the alarm
ing visitor. I will let you hear If an
thing further is seen or heard Of hi
snakeship.
LATEsT.--A gentleman just arrive
from Cores Landing says that the mon
sier was seen disporting himself betwee
Sheep Island and the shore. Aparty
being organized TO attempt is capture
Two sporismen fired At i, when Il !