San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-31
An Ohio Editor Tells q Snake Story.

bears, the moment they saw them
plunged into the water and never CANT
out till the editors left. The chimpan
ices appeared pleased, and frisket
about and extended hands numerous
times in token of hearty welcome. The
editors didn't like their familiarity, and
withdrew to the snakes. There was
one man in the party who eyed the boa
constructor and other large reptiles that
are wont to arouse the wonder of spec
tators with such indifference that he at
tracted the attention OF all who saw
him. He looked like Deacon, and
some thought his manner toward the
snakes was on account OF convictions
that disapproved of visiting such aplace
on Sunday. But among the other edi-
tors whisper went round that he was
the man who had the recent experience
with large snake in Ohio. Some had
not heard of the affair, and after they
got out in the shade. and seated them
selves on benches near the sea-lions, by
dint of good deal of urging he was
prevailed on to relate the story, as fol-
lows: .......... ........
"About a month ago, feeling the deed
of relaxation, and knowing l had an
able substitute in my partner and bust
ness manager, took brief vacation
from my editorial duties, and went down
to visit my brother on his farm on the
Sciota. The farmhouse stands on
sloping piece of ground; below them
flows the Sciota River, clear and cool,
and above them the ground ascends to
gentle knoll. 1t is very rocky in that
region, and rattlesnakes, black
snakes of the racer species,
and copperheads are said to
be thicker here than in any other part
of Ohio. l had never seen any myself,
and so went there thinking little or
nothing about them. My brothers. wife
is a great woman for raising chickens.
At the Ohio State Fair, last year, her
chickens took the first and second prize
for choice of breed and for large size.
When 1 got down to the farm found
Mrs. - in great distress. All her
large chickens had disappeared but two
or three, and nobody could tell what be-
came of them. Varmints were not
plenty about there, so the blame could
not lay on foxes. Neither could it be
put on persons, for all the folks about
there were honest farmers and belonged
to the church. One day was up on the
seated in the shade, as we are
now, reading. Presently, happened to
look up, and saw, not twenty yards
from me, one of Mrs. IS large
Shanghai ROSTERS. 1t was almost as
large as a turkey, and l remember, as
watched him strutting around, l Won
dered whether it wasn't his great size
that had kept him from going with the
rest. 1 resumed my reading again, but
in less than q minute L heard a flutter of
wings and looked up. The rooster was
nowhere to be seen. The ground was
clear for an area of half u mile. l got
up, and noticed short distance away,
near where l had last seen the rooster,
what took to be feathers in the hollow
If black stump. went to the spot.
They were feathers. The stump, as 1
,ame closer, seemed to recede short
way into the ground, and the feathers
With it," ....
Here the editor paused, and swept
he perspiration from his brow with
ed handkerchief, while the crowd, with
lorror depicted on their faces as plainly
S these words are printed on paper,
rev their seats up closer and pushed
heir heads nearer.
Gentlemen" said the editor, care
ully placing his handkerchief in his
reast pocket, eff live to be 900 years
Id l shall never forget the cold sensa.
ion that seemed to creep through my
lood, when saw that stump had two
littering eyes and a white ring around
s neck. 1t was racer. and l saw the
Ill of the rooster sticking out of its
awning mouth. l got down to the
ouse and my legs seemed like timber
ipe.stems as l went. Half an hour :
tier my brother, myself and three or ,,
,ur of the neighbors returned to the ,
,ene with ropes and log-chain. We :
new it would only be waste of pow q.
er and lead to try to shoot the snake, :
, we got above him and rolled stones /;
own the hill till he drew his head into 7
lie ground. Then we quickly laid the :
g chain around the hole in sort of !.
raw-loop. To the other end of the !.
lain we attached the rope. Then we
Dt down the hill with the end of the
,pe and waited. We did not have long
wait. In less than thirty minutes he
lme out. We waited till his neck pro- ;,
uded for about half foot, and then :,
e jerked the rope. The next moment =
e had MIN fast. Three of us pulled :,
e rope, while the other two got hand =
likes. Yard after yard we T
'ew out till we had him :,
il and all. His body seemed . foot in !;
ameter and his length" here the -
ovid with one accord thrust their :,
ads so close that the narrator was OBJ y
red to move back little for more :, Il
omy"-his length was thirteen feet =
"A SIX mr. piuht-let mo saa. I r,aJa n u