Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-25
A Snake Story Confirmed.

Some seven or eight years ago an as
founding snake story came from South
Canaan, Ct, and it was copied far and
near, both in this country and Europe.
About the time referred to much alarm
was manifested along the line Of the
Housatonic Railroad by the appearances
OF tremendous snake. The reptin
seemed to make its home in 0 dense
swamp near the railroad track. It had
been seen by different persons, and the
stories Of those who saw il were laughed
at, despite thoir earnest protestations
OF the truth of their statements.
Time and again the reptile was shot
at by hunters, but il always managed to
get away. The track of the Housatonic
Railroad runs through the swamp
named. Early one morning the engi-
neer Of passenger train saw q long
black object lying across the rails, and
he shut off steam and whistled for
brakes. While the speed was slacken-
ing the engineer saw that il was the
snake about which so much had been
said, and he pulled the throttle open
again, intending, il possible, to run II
down and cut it in two but just before
the engine reached it the end OF the tail
slid off the rail and into the swamp.
Four or Ave years ago two men were
riding in buggy along o road which
skirts the swamp, and saw ahead q dark
object lying across the roadway. As
they neared it it began to wriggle slowly
away, and then it was discovered to be
the famous snake. It slowly disap.
peared beneath the deep underbrush,
and the men were certain from the
measurement of the ground where
they first saw it stretched out that il
was over twenty feet in length.
Parties were organized to hunt the
reptile down, but without success, and
the interest in the snake soon died out.
On Saturday last, two men named
Kelly and Smith, both we'll and favor
ably known in the neighborhood, went
into the swamp with yoke Of oxen
and sled to get load Of wood, the
ground being frozen so hard that there
was no difficulty in passing over any
portion of it in safety, which it would
be impossible to do in warm weather.
After little while they came to large
buttonwood tree, which had decayed
and fallen to the ground. They dis
covered that it was hollow, and in or.
der to handle it easily, they applied q
woodman's saw to it. After saving
nearly through one part of it the saw
grated as though it had struck stone.
They then split the tree, and, to their
establishment, the obstacle which the
saw had struck proved to be bone.
They opened the tree as far as they
could find bones, the length opened be-
ing twenty-one feet, and the remains
proved to be those Of the monster rep
tile so often seen but never captured.
The largest bones measured six inches
in diameter, and from that tapered
down to smaller sizes.
The tail OF the snake was found i'm.
bedded in the upper part of the tree.
There is no doubt that this large tree
had been the snakes winter home for
many years, and in it he breathed his
last.
1t is believed that the last time he was
chased, some four years ago, he sought
refuge in this tree, and never came out
again. The bones and other remains
have been preserved, and will be sent to
the Society of Natural Science, with q
history Of the case.-N. Y. Sun.