The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-10
THE sEA-sERPENT,s RIVAL.

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/ A Reptile Thirty Feet Long and Proba-
bly, Fifty Years OId-A Story Western
Newspaper Readers are Asked to Be
Iieve.
/ A recent issue OF the Cincinnati Com
naercia1 has this tremendous story of a
tremendous snake: In l847 great excite
ment was created in the northern part of
of old and reliable citizens, supported by
their affidavits, that they had seen
snake of enormous size in Hartman's
mill-pond. This pond is three and one
half miles above Williamsburg, on the
east fork of the Little Miami river. The
excitement gradually spread, and public
attention all over the country was at
tracted to the matter. A s. snake-hunt"
party was organized at Batavia, of
Penn were the leaders, to capture the
monster. A day was fixed, and at the
appointed time an immense crowd, armed
with guns, pitchforks, corn-knives, clubs
and almost every other conceivable
weapon, gathered from all parts of the
county at Hartman's mill. After organ
izing and distributing the party along
the sides of the mill-pond, the leaders
ordered an opening to be made in the
| udIu, WHICH WAS uOue. Ht WiUeI WIS
drawn off, but no serpent made his ap-
pearance. However, large cavern was
disco yered under a high projecting ledge
Of stone, the extent of which they were
unable to determine, but it was as large
gs hogshead at the mouth, and eyi
IDENTIFY extended a long distance under
the hill. Hartman was unwilling to let
the opening of his dam remain unless
the snake-hunters would purchase the
| ,o,.tu which thpy o1jnpH TO do nd
as no signs of the snake were discovered,
the party toward night disbanded and
went home. The opening in the dam
was closed, and the water rose again,
covering up the mouth of the cavern.
The excitement gradually subsidized,
being occasionally revived in the follow
ing year by reports of the great snake
being seen occasionally in that neigh
borhood Mr.. Hartman was never able
afterward to do much with his mill, as
the peopIe-even those who protested
disbelief in the existence of the snake
would not 60 to the mill. Land in the
neighborhood Deprecated A camp
meeting which had been held near there,
and which before was attended yearly
by many hundreds, ceased to draw, and
died out. The locality seemed to be
avoided. Nothing had been seen or
heard about the Hartman snake for
Soy u yCtiIo ui1bii SoI - .
A. Penn was going into one of the
northern townships to attend n lawsuit
before squire, and when riding along
the road within halt mile of this same
mill-pond SAW something on the ground,
about 100 yards ahead of him, emerging
from ;Dtield on the northern side of the
road. Squirting his horse forward he
rode within twenty-five yards of the
object, and discovered that it was an
long, and as large around the body as a
beer keg. 1t carried its head about five
feet high, and was moving at the rate of
ten miles an hour. #.&
The colonel Immediately gave the
alarm in the neighborhood, and in q
short time there were fifty men on foot,
in buggies and on horseback in pursuit
The greatest terror prevailed among the
women and children. The excitement
spread like a prairie fire through the
neighboring country. A telegram from
Williamsburg to the Batavians put the
town in the greatest excitement and con-
fusion. The snake was going a southerly
course and was likely to pass near the
town, if he did not change his route.
Everybody turned out with whatever
weapon he could get. Most of the peo-
, pie started in the direction of Alton and
on reaching there found Col. Penn.
whose hose was run down, just mount
ing q fresh steed. He had come in sight
of the snake two or three times and fired
at it with his revolver. but without any
apparent effect. The snake had passed
about quarter of an hour before, run
ming directly through the yard of Hiram
Sweet, and carrying off a two-year-ol
boy who was sleeping in the yard. Col.
Penn, reinforced by the Batavia brigade,
: among whom were Col. Hullck, Judge
Dowdney, Napoleon Bonaparte Ross,
( Dale Cowen. Postm aster Jameson,
started in hot pursuit again. 1t was
easy to track the monster, as he knocked
down therail fences wherever he. crossed
them, and his track across the fresh
plowed cornfields looked like the trail
left by a huge saw-log dragged through
them, while the corn was knocked down
for several rods on each side of his path
=, The greatest CONSERVATION and havoc
were occasioned by him. Teams ran
away; the stock on the farms became
; panic-stricken and rushed pell-mell over
fences and through the fields of grain,
; destroying thousands of dollars worth.
People were running in every direction,
; terrified almost to death Firearms were
discharged to frighten the huge reptile.
1t seemed as if all panuemonium had
been suddenly let loose. On went the
! pursuers and the pursued. The Ohio
river hills were soon reached. The
course of the snake was through Monroe
; township and down Big Indian CT eek A
!, part of the way through Monroe town
!, ship he kept right along the public
: road. Old man Simmons was riding in
! his buggy with Tom Nichols, when then
horse, seeing him approaching. became
frightened, upset the buggy, throwing
them out into the road, and before they
could get up and out of the way he ra1
by them, striking Nichols on the thigh
with his tail as he whirled along, break
: ing the bone. Col. Penn at this time
? was but half mile behind. At least
1000 person were ut this time in pur-
/, suit, hallooing, yelling and performing
: after the manner of Sitting Bull and his
: warriors. At every point on tie ssrive
t fresh recruits were added. Down the
hills into Indian. creek went the snake
In short time he was in sight of the
: Ohio river, and close behind was the
gallant Col. Penn and his brave men and
! noisy followers. But they were little
, too slow. The snake dashed into the
Ohio and disappeared beneath its dirt
andm uddy waters. 1t is believed that
] his snakeship took downward course
from this point. Capt. Morgan, which
boat came up in the evening from Gin
cinnati. says he saw three miles below
New Richmond what at first he took to