The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-07-09
A Snake Story.

Last Saturday being the great
National holiday, our devil con-
Guided to visit the residence of
Capt. James Clark for the purpose
of recreation and to obtain some of
the cherries which grow in such
protusion on the Clark homestead.
Aarriving at the place, be was con
Quoted by the quiet. unsbtrusive
owner of the eminent d main to his
immense orchard, whore Jim pick
ed up an AZ and deliberately cut
down tree which vas literally hid
den by the luscious, ruby b ued
fruit, end our ID was told to help
himself.
Our devil after eating about a
bushel, spent some ton minutes in
filing = two peck basket with the
fruit, and then started for Logan.
As to what he saw on his way
home we will give the account in
his own language as nearly as We
|'can remember it:
"As l was csmiug along the road
this side OF g. Cloves, l happened
to remember that r. A. White had
promishod me that if l would call
at his house on that day he would
pay me the 5000 subscription
that he owed the Office, and 1t bs
ing but little out of my way, l con
cluded to call and obtain the where
with to celebrate the National day.
As l trudged across the fields to-
ward Rufes, happened TO come near
a brushy hollow. As L drew near the
place l was attracted by what ap-
psared to be the fierce sAarling of
a dog; which noise As approached
nearer, ceased /; but as came near
ly opposite the copse. from which l
was separated by an old rail fence.
the snarlins.. again began. more
fierceIy than before and quite near
the rail fence.
set down my basket Of fruit and
climbed up on the fence to sec
what was attracting the attention of
the dog. When on the fence | saw
about thirty feet distant what ap
peared to be the head of = large
sized hound protrud'ng from a
bunch Of briars and weeds, the eyes
appeared red and glaring. the ears
laid backward and close to he neck,
the mouth open and fro hing Il
While around the neck was what
appeared to be . collar about one
and half inches wide, resembling |
the gray plush vest of tho Gazette
LEGAL editor. l was impressed
with the idea that somo farmers |
dog had become entangled in the
ba.hes, and had conc! uded to go to
his relief, when I was Mortified 10
see the head move out from the |
bushes followed by, not the body of
a dog, but the horrible scaly bodysof
. snake. which apps ,red about four
inches in diameter. just behind the
cellar aud to gradually grow thick
er.
l remained on the fence until
some eighteen or twenty feet Of tho
body came to view. at viii, b point
it was about the size of = large
stove pipe. and in color. an ash
grey with 4 row Of diamond shaped
spots along each side of a vivid or
ange hue.
| did not remain to see more but
left for Logan without my basket
of fruit, which l have not returned
for, and will donate to any one who
may 60 for it. 1t is impossible for
me f., give an idea of tho length of
the reptile or beast, as it's body ap-
peared to Increase in size - it came
slowly into view and might be forty
or perhaps eighty feet long.
l didn't call on Mr.. White.
/ forgot TO say that the ground
around where I saw this horrible
monst er, was Uttered with scraps of
last weeks Republican Gazette,
which the snake had evidently been
feeding on to increa . its size or
making q most of.in order to swell his
proportions.
Some hundred yards away in
the bushes caught sight of a but
ton hole boquet wigeling in the
weeds, which have since thought
was attached to this monsters tail,
rs kind Of of proper tail ending
to snake story published in the Ga
zette of last week."