Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-02
A Snake Convention.

AS this is about the time of year that
Inakes make their appearance in large
humbers, and snake stories are fashion,
able, says the Tionesta (Pa.) corre-
IPOndent of the OIL City Derrick, will
sndeavor TO give you the substance of
an account lately received from one Of
our most reliable and Trustworthy citi-
Zens. Residing in an adjoining town
ship, less than half days drivefrom this
Pleasanttown, lives an honest old German
farmer whom we will call Uncle Ben.
Having been well acquainted with Uncle
Ben for several years, we can vouch for
his truth and veracity in all other things,
and OF course we are well satisfied that
his account of this thrilling adventure
among the serpents is also true, and not
Oyerdrawn. Uncle Ben says he started
out to hunt his cattle that had strayed
away from home. During the course of
his long walk through the woods and
barTens of his township, which is ssparsely
settled, he came TO wild section Of
country near a stream which empties
into Tionesta Creek few miles above
this place. There was a hundred acres
or more of wild, broken ground strewn
with rocks and huge powders, while
among the rocks grew tangled bushes,
briars, and an occasional large tree.
On the whole 1t was among the widest
and most picturesque sections it was our
Uncle Ben's good or Ill fortune to ex-
Plore, Upon entering the glen he
noticed peculiar odor on the air, which
he al first attributed to the bloom Of the
laurel bushes which grew in great
abundance through the glen, mixed with
the odors OF other wild flowers which
blossomed In great abundance wherever
the seanty soil gave their roots chance
ior nourlshment, Proceeding on his
course, he had hardly entered the glen
when he discovered several snakes sun
ming themselves upon the rocks and
hat stones. As he, in common
With most farmers, was In the
habit Of killing any snakes he came
across, he cut a hickory club and killed
All those who did not glide under rocks
VI dart out Of his reach. Continuing on
Us course through the rocky hollow or
" he found, as he progressed, that
ofrld reptiles grew more numerous
club was In constant use. Great
ana black rattlesnakes sprung
krnlug rattles aud coiled them
spiral heaps, prepared to bury
@dly iangs In any enemy who
NWe within their reach. Huge
n those deadly reptiles who
Wary warning and whose
81 sure death, barred his
hlo garter-snakeS, both
all, and milk snakes and
n snakes, with an occa-
racer, were also mixed in
together, apparently in
armony. Uncle Ben piled
all his might aud main,
npaily the racers, cop
ID rattlers; the other va
Narmless, he did not exert
Owing 10 the rank and
Is arising from the rattle
rs times, be got deadly
I'd his life would pay the
IS rashness In penetrating
erpenisi but resting himself
pments, and using his hat
would partially recover his
7h, and determined 10
Of the horrid mess of
& serpents, he pressed
attack. Inch by inch,
J, he had 10 club q path.
Ie hOrrid sea Of crawling,
es. In this way he esti.
.4yeled about a quarter OF q
he says In good faith, with all
truth and veracity for which
ed, that he must have killed a
or seven hundred different
How wide was the army o
Gle Ben does not know, a
,lng from the main bod,