The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-17
One More Snake Story.

Two bark-peelers, Jason Cortright
and Hiram Kirby, made singular dis
covery in the woods near High Knob,
Pa, last Thursday, says local paper.
They had been peeling bark in Monroe
County, Pa, and were returning to
their home in Delaware County, N. Y.
Between Monroe County, where they
were working, and High Knob the coun-
try is an almost unbroken wilderness,
there being few clearings, and the road
is very lonely and crooked one. They
left the bark woods where they had been
laboring early in the morning and moth
ing marred their progress for some time,
when they were startled by fierce, rat
Ting noise like that made by rattle
snake. Kirby, who is an old lumber
man, having lived his entire life among
the mountains of Delaware County, N.
Y, appeared wholly Indifferent, and
told Cortright they would hunt the rat
tier and dispatch it. Stepping to one
side of the road into the thick under
brush, Kirby felt something strike his
bootleg. Jumping back and casting his
eyes in front of him, he discovered a
monster rattlesnake coiled and ready to
spring. The men retreated few steps,
and picking up several missiles aps
preached to within few feet of the rep
tile, which was still basking in the sun
shine, and succeeded in killing it. 1t
measured nearly seven feet and had six
teen rattles. Kirby tied hickory witbe
about the reptiles neck and the two
lumbermen continued on their way to-
ward home. They had gone less than
a fourth of mile when they were again
startled by rattling noise. Believing
there was a rattlesnake den not far dis
tant, they concluded to change their
course somewhat. They went to the
left of the road and in the direction of
the "Knob." Every step they took
seemed to bring them nearer to the
noise, and they halted, and being tired
sat down upon an elevated piece of
ground to rest. While thus seated,
several rattlesnakes passed through the
brush few feet in front of them. This
aroused the travellers, for they knew
there was no longer any doubt that they
were in close proximity to snake den.
Stepping to the edge of the knoll and
looking toward the bottom, sight the
like of which they had never before seen
met their gaze. Coiled upon stones and
sticks were scores of rattlesnakes. Cort-
right, who had bitter dislike for
snakes, suggested to his companion that
they retrace their steps and leave the
snakes undisturbed. Kirby, however,
persuaded his companion to open war
fare. They gathered heap of stones
and opened the battle. With the drop
ping of the first stone among the rep
tiles, the noise and din that went up
was almost deafening. The two lum-
bermen continued to pour volley Of
missiles into the den, until what snakes
they had not killed had made their es-
cape into the rocks and underbrush.
The victors then gathered up the dead
snakes. The killed numbered eighteen,
measuring from three and one-half to
five and one-half feet in length. Cort-
right and Kirby then proceeded on their
way home. The above den is an old and
noted one, being the one at which the
late Sam " Holms, a celebrated snake
tanner, used to capture many of the rep
tiles he exhibited throughout the States.
Many are killed at this den every sum-
mer.