Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-07-21
The Latest Snake St0rJ.


The Ballston Spa (N. W correspondent
Of the Sarofogiaa sends the following graphic
account Of recent battle with black snakes
ut Snake Hill. II would seem that the old
hill still deserves Its name:
Zone day East week two farm laborcrs
were sent TO cut poles for scaffol1ing near
the foot of Snake Hill, on the eastern side OF
Saratoga Lake, and while there had narrow
escape from being poisoned from the bites Of
black snakes. As none ofthe parties wish TO
have their names brought to the notice Of the
public, they will be omitted, and their adj
ventures only will be told.
"wishing TO get the best timber possible
for their purpose, they sought the southern
side of the hill, near the waters edge, where
the poles could be found the straightest and
tallest. After Telling number of poles
they proceeded to a pile OF loose rocks. and
there sat down TO eat their dinner. Tho
| spot chosen was very much exposed To the
| heat of a very hot sun, and they were In the
act OF stepping down from the stones to
seek n more shaded spot, and while doing
so some OF the stones ratified from their rest
ing place and rolled down the bank and fell
with n splash into the water. Hardly step
had been taken from the stone heap when
the head OF black snake was seen 90 dart
from a creyice between two largo nat
stones. One of the men secured q
stout club and stepped up TO dispatch
the serpent, while his friend rolled
the stone to one side with n pole which be
found NJ hand. While In the act OF striking
the snake. and as IL by magic, the heads Of
snakes were seen TO dart from every OPEN
ing in the stone-beap, followed 10y their
bodies, and. with heads erect. their eyes
flashing, and their tongues darling forth
from their extended jaws, they made hor-
rible sight to behold. In an instant tho
ground was alive with the crawling, writh-
ing creatures, who, rs II by human instinct,
surrounded the two men, who were nearly
paralyzed with terror, but, realizing that
something must instantly be done, with up
lifted clubs they showered blow after bow
upon the now thoroughly angered snakes,
which sent them flying in all directions,
as they were with every stroke OF the
clubs caught up and thrown into the air.
"One Of the unfortunate men, in his cx-
element, had not noticed several OF the
snakes which had crawled I'm 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 10 his COM
panion for assistance, he struggled to tear
! he coil from his neck. and did not succeed
in doing so until the snake had bitten him
once under the right ear. Flinginy tho
body from him and nearly fainting from
he again took up bis
club and struck to the right and left,
killing snake with every blow.
His companion, while stamping the
head Of a snake, suddenly felt some
thing crawling up his left leg underneath
discovered to his horror that n large black
snake had taken refuge there. Before he
could grab II by its tail the animal had Bit
ten him near the knee. With n fling tho
serpent was flung far into the lake. The
snakes, finding the two brave men were ono
too many for them, after about an hours
battle, and as IL by n preconcerted signal,
made for the rocks and disappeared, not,
however, before several OF them had been
killed. The men, finding themselves the
gictors, proceeded to examine their wounds
md, after attending to t,em, proceeded to
count the dead snakes, which amounted I'm
numbers to eighty -seven, the longest Of
which number mssured seven feet and
light inches in length.
"Among the number was found n blue
'acer four feet I'm length. several large spot-
ed adders, and one large white snake.
nearly five feet long, and some portions of
Is body as large round rs a horses knee.
This snake was shown to the writer. and was
ound to be Of a snow white color, with
everal small blaze spots near its heal. Men
re going to cover the stone heap with
rush, and, after surrounding IL with men
rmed with shotguns, set fire to IL and pro-
eed TO exterminate the snakes. So far the
wo have experienced no bad feelings from
he bites. Luckily they had ON heavy coarse
oots, as several fangs OF the snakes were
ound imbedded in the thick leather.o