The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1879-09-14
A SNAKE JUBILEE.
RattIesnakes, Black Snakes. striped
Snakes i;i II FrOlic.

jefferson C0hio) Gazette.
Mr.. John ID. Merton, a well-known travelling
siesnian had occasion To 20 from Conncautye, Pa,
to Ashtabna, Via jefferson, on Thursday Of last week.
While driving lesurely along through East South
east Denmark Mr.. Merton heard n strange sound Is
suing from n dense underground at the side of the
r01l. The gentleman got out Of the buggy to invcs
tigate tho cnusr Of The noise, being of curious tuin
Of mind. Iiiiching his horse he cautiously parted
lhe bnsIes and stcnthiIy made his way into the
thieket, for perhaps the distance of 100 feet here
was spot Of ground about twenty feet In diameter,
which was such piac. one would Imagine for u
fairy's ballroom. The sticks and brush We're All
cleared away In the space, doubtless by the burning of
Il br,ish heap. Notwithstanding the gentleman had
made his way into the brush So quietly all sounds
were hushcd at his approach save the chirping of a
melancholy cricket, or The drowsy singing of distant
harvest Ny. Mr.. Merton. not tn hc nonplisc,i, M
down upon log IN full view of this arena and
awaited Developments iic had hut short time To
watt for not more than u minute had passed ere u
small striped snake dared ont of n bunch 0f grass At
the side Of the arena, and commenced running around
the space IN circle; another snake little larger soon
followed, and then rattlesnake about two feet In
length joined Ia what seemed 10 be sort of snake ju
bes; every second after that seemed To bring new
conner of some kind. II was II noticeable fact that
striped snakes, milk snakes, ratlesnakes, black
snakes, and water snakes all joined the ihiong In ie
greatest harmony.
When perhaps seventy five or eighty snakes had en-
tered the space curious combination Of pnrring,
| Tttling sounds arose AZ one side of the circle.
glance IN that direction disclosed i've large snakes
two atilesnnkes - striped snake, anh two black
snakos-iying stretched upon log The iattlesnakes
three remaining reptiles had frog In Its mouth which
II tOrtuIng into croaking and making noises frog
fashion, apparently for the amusement of tho snakes
III the ring below. The ratlcs and the crOaking frogs
made rude music. which furnished very fair marching
time to the sIuirming mass Of serenis, and our In
orn,nt says they kept very fair lime with the music,
their heads all swayng In unison from one side To the
other, The gentleman WAS thundorsrnck AT the Won
dcriul sight, and could scarcely believe II not
dream. lie said 10 us; 'pf course You vii. think II
an Improbable, ridiculous story, as would myself II
any one else iod the same to me- but my own eyesghl
| is an the evidence l want After Watching thi,
scene for perhaps quarter OF an hour MIR. Mer-
Ton thought II would he much safer place out ON The
road, and started Ia move ia that direction NosOone
had e made a stir than the music ceased, and every
serpent disappeared as II by magic II was seen,
Mr.. Merton VIII probably remember to ohlsd dying day,
aud such AS no other man ever witnessed, II
telling rs the story, Mr. Merton would nyOluntariIN
| reptiles was before him,