The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-02
WHO BELIEVES THIS,
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Two farm laborers were sent to cut
poles for scaffolding near the foot of
Snakes Hill, on the eastern side of Sara
toga Lake, where they Had narrow es-
cape from being poisoned from the bites
OF black snakes. As none of the parties
wish to have their names brought to the
notice OF the public they will be omit
ted. and their adventures only will be
told.
Wishing to get the best timber posi-
BILE they sought the southern side of the
hill at the waters edge, where the poles
could be found the straiglhest and tall
est. After telling number of poles
they proceeded to pile of loose rocks
and there sat down to eat their dinner.
The spot chosen was very much exposed
to the sun, and they were in the act of
stepping down from the stones to seek
more shaded spot, and, while doing so,
some of the stones ratified from their
resting place and rolled down the bank
into the water. Hardly step had been
taken from the stone-beap when the
head OF black snake was seen to dart
from q crevice between two large fiat
stones. One of the men at once secured
stout club and stepped up to kill the
serpent, while his friend rolled the stone
to one side with a pole which he had
found at hand. While in the act of
striking the snake, and as if by magic,
the heads Of snakes were seen to dart
from every opening In the stone-heap,
followed by their bodies, and with heads
erect, their eyes flashing, and their
tongues darling forth from their ex-
tended jaws, they made horrible sight
to behold. In an instant the ground
was alive with the crawling, writhing
surrounded the two men, who were
nearly paralyzed with terror, but real
izing that something must instantly be
done, with uplifted clubs they showered
blow after blow upon the now thor
oughly -angered snakes, which sent them
flying in all directions as they were with
every stroke of the club caught up and
thrown into the air.
One of the unfortunate men in the
excitement had not noticed several of
the snakes which had crawled in his
rear, and not until he felt the cold and
Shiny body of the reptile around his
neck did he realize his horrible position.
Shrieking to his companion for assist
ance he struggled to tear the coil from
his neck and did not succeed in doing SO
until the snake had bitten him once I'M
der the right ear Flinging the body
from him and nearly fainting from ex-
haustion he again took up his club and
struck to the right and left, killing q
snake ut every blow. His companion,
while stamping the head of snake,
suddenly felt something crawling up his
left leg, underneath his pants, and
glancing down he discovered to his hor-
ror that large black snake had taken
refuge Before he could grab it by it's
tail the animal had bitten him near the
knee. With fling the serpent was
flung far into the lake. The snakes,
finding the two brave men were one too
many for them, after about an hours
battle, and as if by a preconcerted sig
nal, made for the pile of rocks and dis
appeared. Not, however, before several
of them had been killed. The men,
finding themselves the victors, pro-
ceeded to examine their wounds, and
after attending to them proceeded to
count the dead snakes, which amounted
in number to eighty-seven, the largest
of which measured seven feet and eight
inches in length.
Among the number was found blue
racer four feet in length, several large
spotted adders and one, a large white
snake, nearly five feet long, and some
portions of his body as large round as a
horses knee. This snake was shown to
the writer and was found to be of a
snowy-white color, with several small
blue spots near its head. Men are going
to cover the stone-heap with brush and
after surrounding it with men armed
with shot-guns, set fire to it and pro-
ceeded to exterminate the snakes. SO far
the two have experienced no bad feeling
from the bites. Luckily they had on
coarse boots and several fangs of the
snakes were found imbedded in the thick
eather.-,Saratogian.