Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-10-04
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENINGS AND SATURDAY Matinee PL0R NJ

visited the Champion City in his life. When
the train arrived at Dayton the friend pu,
his head out the window and looked around.
"tiave we got there" he asked OF the
Sp-ingfelder. YES" said the latter; "but
this is only the suburbs. You can get out
here il you like, but we may as well ride up
to the Market street crossing" The friend
msrvelsd.
Whea we read in the newspapers about |
some uni r'una'e individual being bitten by |
a rattlesnske and consuming several gallons
OF prime whisky by way of cure, and recov-
ering or not, as the case may be, it is apt to
have very fr.swsy sound to u.s. The fact
is, however. that we have a few rstDlesnakes |
left in Clark county. Several OF the VEN
omous reptiles have been seen this summer |
in Mad river bottoms about four miles north |
OF this city, by farmers One fine specimen |
was killed at distance of only three miles
from this city, week before Last, in a meadow
near Mad river. There is only one
death on record in Clark county from
the bite Of a rattlesnake. The victim was n
farmland, who was employed by farmer
whose place is located about five miles north
Of this city. The man went out TO the field
one day not long after harvest. One bunch
of grain had become partly united and the
man stopped TO re-tie it. He put his hand on
the under side OF the sheaf TO gather the grain
/ in compact bunch. Suddenly he heard
] bp Of k.
most veuomous snake known to North
America. He was about to draw back Too
late He telt blow such as a Swapping
bow-striug would give. Tie jerks his hand
away like fash, and kicks away the sheaf
snd there all Kissing and defiant,
is coiled rattlesnake. In the case
of this man, everything was done for him
but in vain. His hand and arm sweled TO
the size OF a churn with the deadly venom,
and the swelled 4 'sh took on the loathsome
hives OF the serpent. The sufferer at last
died in terrible agony.
The beautiful neighboring resort of Clifton
is said to be famous place for snakes. and
several rattlesnskes have been seen there this
summer Readers of the Springfield GLoBE
will remember the terrific snake story copied
into the paper from the New York Sun, the
scene OF which was laid in Clifton. The
story commenced by describing . mythical
youHg farmer named Rodney Harlem whose
! reputation Tor veracity was alleged to
be sppaliingly excellent. Rodney, it stated,
was out walking with some companions
among the rocky Chasms at Clifton, which l.
the popular Suuday-school picuicing resort of
Springfield and vicinity. Suddenly one of
the party slipped, and in falling caught a
bush growing a. the side Of the rocks As
Is usual IN thrilling rCmances. this obliging
bush gave way, laying bare the entrance to a
cave. All trembled, of course, but Rodney
who with true chivslry said he'd explore that
cavern if IT busted both his suspenders. De-
sp'e the fearful entreaties of his companions,
he dive in and was soon lost to view. After
proceeding some distance into the cave with
a candle dimly lighting up the cavern,
be saw what appeared to be two pans
Of blue fire as big as stove
lids, at some distance. As he
drew nearer, to his horror he saw that the
eyes belonged TO full-grown snake 10 bis
own right. The snake WAS described as being
as large around as a -four barrel. Rodney
stated that huge weights seemed hang on his
| VI
"cold perspra'iol" business in the most ap-
proved boy scout style. The vast serpent
soon commenced to exercise its powers of
fascination and Rodney felt himself yauked
toward the throat and digestive organs OF
the boss serpent by peculiar magnetism "
AT this point mis- candle fell from his hand
and he gave Il wild cry
The candle was not eXtinguished but
stuck in some sand at the bottom Of the cave.
BY this Il ckering light Rodney raised his
trusty rlh+, and sent u ball crashing through
his snnkeship. Of course he tainted,
his friends rushed in at once and found the
snake measured so feet and 2-l0 OF an inch
in lepg b. Then that hoary old chestnut was
worked ID about the snake having escaped
from show, neighbors losing poultry 10 n
mysterious manner, etc.
The article made prodgious sensation in
this city, and at Clifton, where its ruth was
implicitly believed. Several farmers secure d
the Clifton cliffs for hours hunting for traces
OF Rodney Harlem and Ills so foot snake,
out In vain. The greatest puzzle was that
there was no one by the name of Harlem IN
the whole county. Still, however, many
people believe the story yet. The article WAS
clipped by the boiler plate mauf,c,urers and
found its way to hundreds OF country papers
in this way. The whole story WAS the work
Of Springfield newspaper man, who had
read 30 many tough snake stories in the
New York Sun that he wondered to hGw
great an extent the credulity of the snake
story editor would reach aud resolved to try
It to its fullest llmi, by the above sto'y.
humorous weekly paper called the Sill
houette has been started in this city by
Messrs. Reed 4 Ralph. The first number is
exceedingly bright, and has several entertain
ipg original sketches.
The extraordinary success OF the descent on
Cincinnati OF the Sprin gheld Plug Hat brig
ade, and the wonderful enthusiasm which
was occasiOnsd by it, sits heavily ou demo-
cratic stOmachs. The editors OF democratic
dsilies seem to be enjoying nightmare of
the same horse power (night-mare power, N
b. joke rs that enjoyed by man who re-
tires to rest sfer assimilatDg Eve posnd, of
fruit cake favored With castor oil and e1ch
backing. The mild Bohemian who srfibbles
tor the Cleyegnd Plain Dealer spurs his wan
ing intellect into the following;
"ln order TO vote 10 NJ ther Stewards tenn
persnce town o. Springfield a fellow has to
wear plug hat, carry cane, go to bed at
$50 o'clock and get up in the morning shout
ing the battle CRY Of Joe Joe -Bob-she-e