Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-08-22
THE SEA.SERPENT'S RIVAL.
A Reptile Thirty Feet Long and PrOba-
bly, Fifty Years Oid-A story Western
Newspaper Readers are Asked to Be
Iieve.

snake: In I847 great excite
ment was created in the northern part of
Clermont county by the announcement
of old and reliable citizens, supported by
their affidavits, that they had seen a
snake of enormous size in Hartman's
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 snake-hunt'
party was organized at Batavia, of
which Col. Howard and Capt. j. A.
Penn were the leaders, to capture the
monster. A day was fixed, and at the
timean immense crowd, armed
will guns. ritnhforl1s. onrn-kniune al', he
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
dam, which was done. The water was
drawn off, but no serpent made his ap-
pearance. However, a large cavern was
disco yered under high projecting ledge
of stone, the extent of which they were
unable to determine, but it was as large
as a hogshead at the mouth, and evil
IDENTIFY extended long distance under
the hill. Hartman was unwilling to let
the opening of his dam remain unless
the snake-hunters would purchase the
property, which they declined to do, and
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 subsided,
being occasionally revived in the follow
ing year by reports of the great snake
being seen occasionally in that neigh.
borhood. MIR. Hartman was never able
afterward to do much with his mill, as
the people-even those who professed
disbelief in the existence of the snake
would not 90 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
several years until yesterday. Col. j.
A. Penn was going into one of the
UON w CLuuCIlll lbNSuIu
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 field 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
immense snake, not less than thirty feet
long, and as large around the body as a
beer keg. 1t carried its head about five
feet high, and was moving ut the rate of
ten miles an hour.
The colonel Immediately gave the
alarm in the neighhorhood, and in a
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 soulherly
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 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
abouta quarter of an hour before, run
ming directly through the yard of Hiram
Sweet, and carrying off a two-year-old
boy who was sleeping in the yard. Col.
Penn, reinforced by the Batavia brigade,
among whom were Col. Hulck, 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 the rail fences wherever he crossed
them, and his track across the fresh
! plowed cornfields looked like the trail
left by 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,
People were running in every direction,
terrified almost to death. Firearms were
discharged to frighten the huge reptile
1t seemed as if all pandemonium 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 theil
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 rar
by them, striking Nichols on the thigf
with his tail as he whirled along, break
ing the bone, Col. Penn at this tim,
was but half a mile behind. At leas
1000 persons were at this time in pur
suit, hallooing, yelling and performin!
after the manner of Sitting Bull and hi
warriors. At every point on t43 rive
fresh recruits were added. Down thO
hills into Indial creek went the snake
In short time he was in sight of TIN
Ohio river, and close behind was th
gallant Col Penn and his brave men an,
noisy followers. But they were littl
too slow. The snake dashed into th
Ohio and disappeared beneath its dir
and muddy waters. 1t is believed tina
his snakeship took u downward cours
from this point Capt. Morgan, whic
boat came up in the evening from Gin
cinnati. says he saw three miles beloy
New Richmond what at first he took {
be large log floating in the river, bu
on coming nearer it disappeared, and h
is satisfied now that it was the gres
snake. William Fitzpatrick and sewers
other citizens of New Richmond weI
were on the boat confirm this statement
1t is now certain that the Clermont SCI
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