Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-05-13
RATTLESNAKE ROAST.
A Roll of Them as Big as q Barrel
Discovered In Grant County,
Wisconsin.

DlScOV6T6u III GTdub OOuIty,
Wisconsin.
They are Roasted, smothered. Smoked, and
Beat to Death by the Farmers.
Dubuque Times,
A horrible snake story comes from the
vicinity of Cassville, Grant county, Wis. and
was well circulated around the streets of East
Dubuque Friday and yesterday. 1t was the
talk in the saloons and elected the greatest
| wonder and establishment. Those who had
heard it, were eager to hear more, and when
a Times reporter was discovered coming
along the streets he was besieged by dozen
who were wild to know what he knew.
"Did you hear any thing of the snakes at
Cassville ?" remarked one man, while the
others in speeches. silence listened for the
reply.
"Snakes, what kind of snakes,in the boots?
| orr
Here the reporters question was cut short
and man who undoubtedly Md seen snakes
Of all kinds, told the tale which is vouched
tor by dozen honest farmers living in that
locality. The name of the parties who dis.
covered the snakes are respectfully John
Hayden and his son Thomas, q lad of fifteen.
Friday morning the boy went to the barn for
the purpose of feeding the horses and getting
them ready to go to the village church. As
he stepped into the barn, Kissing sound
greeted his ear, accompanied with a sharp
quick rattle. As that section is known for
snakes, the boy knew the cause of the alarm
and stepped out of the barn as quickly as
possible. Being courageous youth he again
entered the barn with a long heavy stick, i'm
tent to find he whereabouts of the unwel-
come intruder. As he stepped in the noise
again greeted his ear, and looking up he be-
held long, large fat, rattlesnake, with eyes
gistening and tongue extended, coiled about
post few feet above his head. The snake
was about to throw itself when the youth let
| fly his club and the dangerous reptile fell
between the horses. coiled tightly to his club.
| While lying on the floor the boy saw his
horses were in imminent danger, and in q
moment of thoughtlessness he stepped be-
tween the horses and grabbed the snake
| little below the head and beat it to death
against the boards The snake measured over
six feet and numbered 20 rattles. But this
was not all. The most startling of the snake
encounter was yet to follow. After the boy
had killed the snake he harnessed the horses
and went to inform his father, leaving his
| dead victim lying on the barn floor 1t being
rather late the father delayed his visit to the
barn until the return from church, when he
accompanied his son to the scene of the con-
| f1ct As the barn door was opened a large
rattesnake darted out and dragged its oily
self under the barn. II was followed by two
or three and the father and son thought it
best togo little slow about the business
and seek another more favorable entrance
At the rear of the barn a ladder reached to
the loft and it was deemed best to climb this
and from the loft look down in the horses
apartments. Both the men acted on the spur
of the moment and it was well they did, for
had they passed into the front door, death by
snake bites might have been the verdict of
the Coroner's inquest. On the
BARN yLooR WAS THE DEAD SNAKE
surrounded by over one hundred rattlesnakes,
all rafting their rattles and Kissing in man.
ner which made the blood run cold in the
veins of the two men. The reptiles kept
creeping about their dead mate, biting it in
the tail, head and body, and keeping up an
incessant and ceaseless noise of rattles and
Kisses The father threw large iron hay
fork among the group, which scattered them
in different directions, but they returned
shortly to keep company with the dead Az
ter looking at them for while longer,
number of neighbors we're called, who, after
gazing on the disgusting sight, thought it
best to
SET FIRE TO THE BARN
and burn the reptiles. The torch was set to
the rear OF the barn, and soon the heat
spread to all parts and the neghbors watched
to see that none of the snakes should escape.
Five or six were killed as they sped from the
barn, together with dozen rats, and it be,
came matter of great curiosity where the
balance Of the snakes had gone to escape the
flames. When the barn was entirely demol~
ished survey was taken Of the ground and
the mystery cleared up. In the middle of
the patch where the barn had stood was a
large hole covered with leaves which had
burned cut. In this place the snakes had
lived all winter rolled into ball and the
warm weather had thawed them into life.
When the fire was started the cracking noise
drove them into the hole and large pile of
debris, together with burning cinders held
them prisoners, and what few were not
burned to death were easily dispatched after
the fire. Some two hundred in all were
killed, and the men lifted them out with
pitchforks while the offensive odor arising
from their bodies could be relished far, far
away. ALI Of the snakes were Of the deadly |
rattle-snake species, and il was fortunate they |
did not come to life when the horses and |
cows were in the barn. Mr.. Hayden loses |
about $500 By the fire, but he is satisfied |
since he has rid the world of some two hum |
drec less snakes