The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-28
SNAKES! SNAKES!
Delaware County to the Front for Big
Snakes.
Monsters Twenty Feet Long-FuriOus At
tack ON Young Colt by Huge
Reptile.

about as regularly IN Indiana as does the
spring. In other words, spring time seems
to be prolific of snake finds, and many rich
leads are struck. OF all the turnouts of
Aatheads, coppsrheads. carriers, copper
snakes, racers, rattle, water and other species
of snakes reported from this section Of In
diana, there have been none that have
equaled the one reported to the CONNER
cial correspondent to-day. And there never
was a snake md anywhere which caused
more dreadful, dangerous battle than did
this one.
Mr.. Joshua Mills, farmer, lives in the
extreme northwestern part of this or the
southeastern of Grant County, near the juno
ton OF Delaware, Grant aud Madison Coun-
ties. and about fifteen to eighteen miles from
this city. Day before Yesterday he was
clearing up patch OF deadenlng on his
farm. The day was balmy and pleasant.
At 10 o'clock in the forenoon be had ready
for burning three or four heaps Of brush,
and when about ready for doing 90 he con-
celved the idea of cremating an old log hog
pen which stood near by. A hundred feet
distant was a We II which was uncovered, was
operated by deep bucket attached to pole,
aud was used for watering stock. A hun
dred feet or so further on was large, shall
low pond OF stagnant water, surrounded by
willows and dead flags and coarse grass. The
surrounding country is low, wet and swampy.
The hog pen was fair specimen of We
olden time sty-roomy, with log flooring laid
on the ground, and the corners of the
structure resting on large logs Embedded in
the earth. After determining upon burning
the hog pen, on account OF the many rats,
lizards etc he had seen about il, and be-
cause OF its having done duty so long as to
become pest, he at once proceeded to carry
brush and throw into 1t. He worked an
49, IL.
pleted his work, and was in the act of pick
ing up the scattered limbs and throwing
them into the pen, he was startled at seeing
0 monstrous water snake crawl out from IN
der the logs and start off toward the pond.
Mr. Mills told the Commercial correspond
ents informant that this snake was not less
than fourteen or sixteen feet long, and about
eight inches in diameter. He was so COM
plstely dumbfounded that he could not
move for a moment, but finally ran toward
the serpent, and with clubs succeeded In
turning its course away from the pond.
He then ran to the house for his gun, an old
fashioned musket. When Mr.. Mills re-
turned the snake was not to be found.
He then fred the truck in the pen, and
started around firing the other heaps, laying
his gun on the ground not far from the hog
pen. The burning of the brush on the sty
attracted to the sCele a horse and colt the
latter yearling, which were running loose
iR tho clearing. After iapte of probably
twenty minutes after placing fire TO the hog
pen. Mr.. Mills heard dis ,urbaDce among
his horses, which were standing near the fire.
He looked up The animals were $50 yards
distant. The first thing that attracted Mr..
Mills attention YVES the old houe kicking
upward with hind feet as if wild The colt
was stamping with his front feet. Finally
the old horse kicked high into the air and ran,
and at the san time somethlrg Ike long
81 ~ FL 4.
ground. Mr.. Mills saw there was something
wrong going Oh, and ran with all possible
speed to wi ere the trouble was. The horEe
which bad ran away stood Off 100 yards
distant "whlckerIng" The colt paved the
ground terribly, and it was not until Mr..
Mills was right at the place where stood the
colt that he comprehended the situation.
Around the body of the colt were almost two
coils OF large snake. Its tail was three
or four times wrapped around one
front leg, and Its head had moved
its coils around the colts body. The colts
eyes prOtruded, its breathing was hard, it
paved, pranced and cavor;ei around as il in
the very thoes of death. Mr.. Mills had no
knife with him of sufficient szs to cut the
reptile IN twain. He hadn't time to go and
get one, for the colt would die in half min
ute's time. The snake was slowly tighten
ing its coils, and on either side of il the
colts flesh protruded. showing the terrible
strength of the twist. Mr.. Mills took in the
situation at q glance. He must burst the
reptile with club, and do it very quick,
too. He sprang toward stake lying on the
ground, and just as he was picking it up
wbirr! whirr! was heard from behind, and
looking up the ioEked tongue OF murderous
rsttlesnske presented itself.
Tine fire was so intensely lot there that IL
scared the rattlesaake, and il sped on and
away. But then the colt continued round
and round, and paving slower aud slower.
as il ready to fall at any moment Its very
life was being squeezed out Of ii. Without
any delay Mr. Mills rushed that way and
wits one Yell swoop with his club burst the
reptile until its entrails were strewn all over
the animal, and it fell TO the ground dead.
Strange, the colt was not seriously I'M ured,
and 1t walked away.
But the danger to Mr.. Mills had Just be.
gun. When the horses ran away, a score or
more Of snakes OF various sizes and kinds
were seen running from the fire. A lea OF
shot from his gun failed TO kill any of the
huge yellOw-spotted monsters. Owing to
the racket caused by the horses, the snakes
had so far run in another direction, but as
soon as the animals had got out of reach
they glided In the direction of Mr.. Mills.
With the club he held in his hand he sue
ceeded in keeping the snakes away from him
for while, hut finally the number grew so
promiscuous that he himself was compelled
10 retreat. Mr.. Mills noticed from dis
lance that nearly all the reptiles, In their
hurry to get away from the scorching flames,
were plunging heedloDg into the we'll, the
others into the pond. From the point
where he stood Mr.. Mills saw, he thinks,
forty or fifty horrible largo snakes of various
kinds 60 into that we'll.
"a comparatively few were rsttlesnakes,
and they were not very large, but some of
the others were huge, fifteen to twenty feet
in length. Some of the Glue racers carried
their heads as high as a man, and swept
along like race horses. The sight was one
which thrilled the auditor with a sickening
horror. When the pen had burned down,
so that there was not probability of there
being any more reptiles crawling from II,
Mr.. Mills approached the well and looked
in. The water was probably six feet deep
and The distance to the water from the tor
about eight feet. From his position be saw
some OF the most horrible snake-sights tha
can be imagined. Two giants fought unit
the water was turbulent with mud and
bieod, spurts of which would occasionally bs
sent to the top of the well, causing him who
uaa lookinO doUnuard IN afart hack ipa