Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-16
CORRESPONDENTS.
The Kind of Snake and Turtle Stories They Fell In Webster, Mass.
 NORTH MANCHESTER Ct.,
 Jan. II, 1882


 NORTH MANCHESTER, Ct, ]
 Jan. II, 1882.
 To the Edttdr of tue JOURNAL AND COURIER
 few evenings ago I was waiting for a train in Webster, Mass, and after a good supper was listening to the stories of several men who were giving their experience of seeing snakes in that locality One told of n party moving in @ lot one day who was at tackled by 'hoop snake" that had to be cut in two before it could be driven off. Another told of going with party of circus men one day into an old lot, and from deserted cellar in an old tumbled-down house they took out no less than two bushels of vari- ous kinds of snakes that were so chilled by the weather that they could not get away. But the best story told was by an old man who had not spoken word as yet. He said that he knew of case that happened near where they were then talking that would be of interest to all present. About ten miles west of this place was the farm once owned by General Israel Putnam and from that so much time was spent in talking about the old General, of whom he gave many incl dents that we almost forgot the story. But he went on and related that one day General P. had lot of men moving for him, and go- ing out into the field where they were at work, found they had left quite patch of grass standing in 8 certain spot, and when asked for the reason, the men said there was large rattlesnake seen in the grass and not a man was willing to take the risk of moving the same for fear of getting bitten They were laughed at by the General, and after considerable talk one of the men offered bet dollar that if they should succeed in killing the snake and cutting off it's head, the General himself dare not even take it up by the tail after it's head was cut from it's body The bet was taken and then they all set to work, hunted the snake in the grass killed it and cutting off it's head all stood about to see tue General win his bet by taking it up by the tail. Boldly advancing he picked it up and instant ly the headless body turned about and struck it's stump against the Generals bare hand Involuntarily he dropped the snake and lost the dollar and had the laugh turned upon him by all the bystanders. Inthis case it seems the man who made the offer to bet knew the truth of the adage that "a ruling passion is strong in death," for although the snake had no head with which to bite it would make the effort as, was in this case shown
 Of course all owned up that this was the best snake story told but the landlord said he could tell another yarn, not about snakes but about something else, which would be as good as that. So we all listened. He said when he was boy he frequently went fish ing in the ponds about this locality, and one day while out with friend they saw very large turtle and thought they would try and capture it. So they set about it and on near ing it one of them struck it with his fishing pole and with that the reptile took it in his mouth and held on until they drew it alongside the boat, and then they pulled it inside. But (said he) the most fun of all was when once inside the boat it s'went for'' them with such vigor that it was with great difficulty that they could keep out of it's way until they succeeded in l turning it over on it's bank and securing it ! with ropes And when they at last landed it l and dragged it some rods upon the bank l 1t would make such an effort to get pack into the water again that 8 man stood upon it's back and it would carry him. ! They secured it at last and shipped it to Bos- ! on. They received large sum for it, for I ts weight was no less than forty mine ! pounds. I This gave rise to other stories, but as it was | rain time I left them for the depot, and for | anything I know they may be telling stories I ret. M O. s.
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