West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-09-08
THE ORIGINAL SERPENT.
JUST DISCOVERED FOUNDER
ING AROUND IN HIS
DOTAGE.
FOUND ENToMBED IN OLD RED SAND
STONE ROCK IN ILLINOIS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE
GARDEN OF EDEN
SNAKE.

Ga Ju'y 9th lset season reliable
persons at LVttleviile, H., test, fed
to having met in the highway snak g
of prodiglous SIZE, which has fright
ened horses and disturbed the dreams
OF Ewes descendants. This snake is
fifteen feet long, according to all
statements, black on the back and
greenish- blue on the sides. It's eyes
are as large as marbles, and beneath
it's throat is sack as large as two
quart jug. It's habitate is in the vi
cinity OF field OF rye, which the
owner dare not enter, although it
has been ready Tor moving for aev-
ersl weeks.
Two days later Mr.. G. w. Adams,
verscious citizen OF Downs town
ship, also in this county, stepped
over what be supposed to be log in
the rath near creek on his farm.
vesugstion proved it to be SER
pent twenty feet in length taking a
nap. He went to several of HE
neighbors and they organized a posse
for the capture of the reptile, but 90
their return it had fed. Weeds were
broken down for long distance and
its course OF flight could be easily
traced. Mr.. Adams has lived in Nc
Lean county for fifty years. but n ever
saw the like.
These .fscis were reported by tele-
graph, and duly appeared in the
ophijian department of the New
York papers.
90 the l2Ih OF July as Anthony
Scheldt was fishing On the Des Plans
three mites below Joliet and near
famous Indian mount, he suddenly
found his dog, su immense mastif, 10
the coils Of an enormous python.
Every body laughed at his story but
the next cay party on picnic Wis.
tied the mound, While mupching
their sandwiches the believing OF a
COW was heard. A little distance a.
way the animal was found with a
snake wound around It's body. The
bones OF the unfortunate creature
cracked like pistol report at each
turn Of the serpent, which wac tweu
~ leet long and foot in dismeter.
The picnic party fed without oere-
mony,
These stories coming TO the atten-
tion Of Walter Suuder and. a we'll
known snske-tamer who wss travel
ling with a circus in Wisconsin, be
came TO the conclusion that q valus-
BILE snake that had escaped from
some 10 menagerie was loose ia Illinois
and be started down to Joliet 10 see
il he could make q capture.
Mr.. Sunderland spent about a week
trying to strike the trail Of the py-
tbon and WAS about giving up the
hunt in despair when be came upon
the monster at the identical Indian
mound already mentioned lie had
been out all day and was sitting on a
log about 200 feet from the mound
when he saw something move. lie
was armed only with q Smith & Wes-
son revolver. and the man who Was
with bin carried a stout bag.
The animal emerged from the
mound slowly, as II just awakening
from torpid condition, and wound
along through tbe debris in the riv.
er bottom. To Walt. Sunderland
amazement, it kept on coming, tni
there seemed no end TO IT, When it
had fully emerged from Che mound
be calculated that ils length was
sixty feet. To attempt 70 capture
this animal IN The ordinary way with
a bag was simply impossible. Bot
he did nor despair Of killing Il and
securing ths skin. So waiting until
the head Of the reptile came within
pistol range, be fred q shot At t
Both men testify that they heard
a rush as Of a mighty wind, and The
serpent had disappeared
Walt. Sunderland, however. was
90 struck With The value Of tb.s Prize
that be went back TO Chicago sn5