Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-23
A Remarkable Hnake Circns.

MIR. John ID. Merton, well-known
travelling salesman. had occasion 10 drive
from Conneautville, Pa, 10 Ashtabula,
Ohio, via jefferson. While driving lei
surely along through East or Southeast
Denmark. Mr.. Merton heard strange
sound Issuing from dense underground
at the side of the road. The gentleman
got out OF the buggy To investigate the
cause of the noise, being Of Il curious turn
OF mind. Hitching his horse hc cautious
~ parted the bushes and stealthily made
his way into the thicket for perhaps the
distance of one hundred feet. Here was
a spot of ground about twenty feet In
diameter, which was such place ms one
would imagine for n fairy's ballroom.
The sticks and brush were all cleared
away in the space, doubtless by the
burning of n brush-hcap. Notwithstand-
ing the gentleman had made his way into
the brush 80 quietly all sounds were
hushed ut his approach save the chirping
OF Il melancholy cricket or the drowsy
singing of II distant harvest hy. Mr..
Merton, not TO be nonpluscd, sat down
upon log in full view of this arena and
awaited developments. He had but n
short time To wait. for not more than a
minute had passed ere "A small striped
snake dartcd out of bunch of grass at
the side of the arena and commenced run
ming around tn space in circle. An
other snake little larger soon followed,
and then "A rattlcsnakc about two feet in
length joined in what seemed TO be sort
of snake jubilee; every one after that
seemed TO bring newcomer of some
kind. 1t was a noticeable fact that
striped snakes, milk snakes, Tattlcsnakcs.
black snakes and water snakes NIL Joined
the throng in the greatest harmony.
When perhaps scvcnty-iive or eighty
snakes had entered the space n curious
combination OF purring, rafting sounds
arose at one side Of the circle. 4 glance
in that direction disclosed five large
snakcs-two rattlcsnakcs. striped snake
and two black snakcs-lying stretched
upon a log. The rattlcsnnkcs were shak
ing their rattles violently. and each Of the
three remaining reptiles mad frog in It's
mouth which it was torturing into
croaking and making noises frog fashion,
apparently for the amusement of the
snakes in the ring below. The rattles
and the croaking frogs made rude music.
which furnished very fair marching tire
to the squirming mass Of scrpcnts, and
our informant says they kept very fair
time with the music. their heads all
swaying in unison from one side TO the
other. The gentleman was sthundcrstruCk
at the wonderful sight, and could scarce
ly believe IL was not dream. lie said
to US: "Of course you will think 1t an
improbable, ridiculous story, ns | would
myself If any one told the same 81 me ;
but my own cyesightis the only evidence
want" After watching this scene for
perhaps quartcrof an hour. Mr.. Merton
thought it would be "A much safer place
out on the road. and started to move in
that direction. No sooner had he made
stir than the music ceased. and every
serpent disappeared ~ II by magic. 1t
was scene Mr.. Merton will probably
remember to his dying day. and such a
one ~ no other man ever witnessed. In
telling us the story, Mr.. Merton would
involuntariiy shudder every few minutes,
"A though the mass Of reptiles was before
him .-JcfcrAon lOhtO) Gn-oMc.