Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-14
PERILs OF PROHIBITION
Dreadful Consequences of Its En-
forcement in Kansas.


ST. JOSEPH. Mo-, Sept. 1O.-Many will
perhaps remember the great snake den
near Gienelder, in Cloud county, Kansas,
which was discovered in September, 1873,
at which a large force of men were en-
ployed for four weeks by the county to de-
stroy the reptiles until the number un-
earthed reached to between 1000 and
5000. While the story was looked
Sp0n hoax 10 It F was 9 neysTtoere as
true, as can be substantinted by MANY
hundreds who visited the den out OF curl
Osity. Mr.. James T. Harris, who is in
the city buying an opening stock of goods
Tor a store at Cleveland, is authority for
the statement that on last Saturday a den
of reptiles was discovered in the stone
quarry near the junction of Twin Butte
creek and Huckleberry creek. in which
there are many species, and that several
thousand have already been killed, with
no prospects OF finding the limit.
The discovery was made by a cowboy
named Willis, who, in passing near the
quarry, was surprised To notice that the
grass had been worn out near the roots
by many trails leading in the direction o.
the rocks. His curiosity was aroused
aud he at once proceeded TO investigate.
Leaping from his horse, Willis followed
the trails up to the stone quarry. where
he found that they ali centered toward
small cavity. He approached the opening
IN the rocks and was about to sloop down
to continue the investigation, when he
was surprised 10 see the heads of a dozen
or more huge reptiles appear before
him. The surprised and astonished
herdcr jumped back and. pulling a revolv-
er, fired into the hole. Instantly seeth-
60. - l..
with heads erect and kissing sounds and
started toward the intruder who had in
vaded their peacefulness. Willis took to
his heels and started on n run for the spot
! where his bOrse was standing. Before
reaching the animal, however, he en-
cauntered large number of serpents,
! which had escaped from the den through
outlets tn the prairie, and barely escaped
being bitten on several occasions.
The reptiles showed fight at every
point, and one of the largest, which is
said to have been about eight feet in
length, was persistent in its pursuit of
the herder. who succeeded in regaining
his saddle just in time to escape. Willis
rode to the Harris place where several
men are employed and notified them of
the circum tances. They at once started
for the den, piloted by their informant.
and on reaching the spot were Mortified
TIE lodges of the quarry were liter
ally lined with snakes and the out
look for eXtermlnEting them an
peared anything but fatterIng. Shot
guns loaded with heavy shot were dis
charged into the moving masses With ter.
rble effect, and 1t was not until late in
the evening that any loss IN the number
was noted. Darkness coming on tho work
OF eXtermiuatlOn was suspended until
morning, ana man was dispatched to
Gilmore station for more ammunition and
with Instructions to purchase 100 pounds
OF blasting powder.
The next morning the work again COM
menced aud the party succeeded about 10
| O'Clock in getting a blast ready for eX-
plosion which, when it occurred, hurled
over 200 Of the serpents in a mangled con-
dition into the air. Mr.. Harris saws he is
confident II, 600 of the reptiles have been
killed, but II will be several days vet be-
fore the end il reached. Among the rep.
tiles he found adders, racers, vipers, rat
tie and bull snakes.