Huntsville gazette., 1882-06-10
The Latest Snake Story.

We have all heard snake stories which
we could not credit, but this county lays
claim to one which is true as well as
most wonderful, as the evidence of some
of our most responsible men attests. On
the farm OF Mr.. Newton J. Reddie, one
mile north of the little village of Law
renee (ten miles northeast Of Indianap-
olis), appeared one of the most unwel-
come visitors we have ever had in these
parts. NJ. Reddie.. while out among his
I sheep, was startled by the unusual bleat-
ing of his lambs, and on going to the
spot he saw huge reptile raise his head
many feet above the ground. There was
/ no time for ceremony, and he started
thurriedly for Lawrence and gave the
alarm. Here he met several anxious
! Friends, who at once armed themselves
| and repaired to the scene, but their
anxiety was considerably allayed when
the huge monster met their gaze.
Among those who attended Mr. Red
die were VIM. Hensly, John L.. Brown,
James Perry and James Creekmore, all
well-known citizens of this place. They
all mounted the fence, and observed the
! sheep on the opposite side Of the field
running in a circuit. They remained
until the sheep came around to their
side, when they found that they were not
in the presence of the one monstrosity
only, but three others Of a kind, each Of
which the men claim measured from six
to eight feet. The three little snakes
then gathered hold of one of the lambs
and started for the monster snake.
While they were struggling with the
| 1o Col
rail at them; they then relinquished
their hold and made an attack upon the
men, but were beaten back, and they
| again started for the lamb, one at either
end and one at the middle, and the little
bleater was hurried through the air to
the big snake, and no more was seen of
it after it reached the jaws of the de-
yourer. A ~H A s8t,a 3s#es
I At this point the men fired several
shots at the old fellow. 1t acted strange
ly, and advanced no further, being
struck, no doubt. by some of the bullets,
but they took no effect, and it lay still
for several minutes, and then the small
snakes ran into its mouth. It unfolded
its wings and started, but it was some
time before it could get out of the field,
for it is surrounded by woods. 1t finally
raised high enough and scared away,
starting eastward, and passing over Mr..
Smart's house. His daughter Ida, who
was in the yard, was frig ghtened so badly
that, it is feared, she will never recover.
1t then passed Mr.. Charley Negley's
house. His daughter Leibie saw it, and
she has since been warned by an over
ruling power to stay in. Thence it
passed Oaklandon; it was high when
that place was reached.
/ Doc. Cary and Colonel Rily saw it.,
but they thought it was fowls flying in
:. row. Charles Hensley says his atten-
ton was drawn by q strange noise in the
air, and on looking up it was too high to
tell what it was. He gave it very little
T attention as he thought it something
| blown up in a storm, and that the noise
was made by something on the ground.
When he saw it it was three miles west
/ of the farm where it was first seen. At
least twenty persons saw it, and it can
not be doubted. Great excitement pre-
walls over it's strange visit. Tomar Ell
lott and Rev. John Newhouse were on
the ground few minutes afterward.
| They saw several of the lambs that were
still bleeding. The Rev. Newhouse is
one of the wealthiest and most reliable
men in the country; he is minister of
the M. e. Church at Lawrence, and he
says there is no doubt that the men are
telling the truth; he can't help but be-
lieve them,l as the men were almost
frightened to death. James Creekmore
fell PROSTATE and was carried to Mr..
Reddie's house, where medical aid was
summoned, and it was some time before
he came to. The snake came here
about three p. M, and stayed fully an
hour and half. Any person doubling
this can satisfy himself by writing to
any of the persons mentioned above
Laurence (I,ad.) Cor. Cincinnati Times
Star.