Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-08-14
THE BIGGEST YETI!
witten fer the TRIBUNE.

Not many years ago Or. Coz
I'm proposed to Professor Strlderthat
they two should 60 on a naturallzlngg
tour through the Belt mountains, one
of the many offshoots from the main
range of the grand old Rockies. The
professor jumped at the proposal, and
after a few days these worthless left
the then. small town Of Great Falls,
intending to camp at Van Dusen-
berry's lime kiln the first night. 1t
so happened that Van Dusenberry
himself was in town that day with
his wagon, SO the professor rode with
him out to the kiln that afternoon,
mot fancying more horseback riding
than was necessary. The doctor fol-
lowed after with the horses. Van
pusenberry and the professor begull-
ed the way by telling snake stories.
Ivan. are there many snakes out
your way, and have you killed any
.this year,"
Wa there are a few, only a few,
though. I killed only hfty-nine one
eIay last week, and that amt up to
she average"
Indeed! [ did not suppose there
were SO many
o, them's only a few. Why, I've
BILLED as many as a hundred a day,
steady. for three weeks when [ was
&on Belt creek"
What were they Bull snakes
.e1r rattle snakes?"
"They was both kinds, and | had
more fun than youcould shake q stick
al. I'd catch a big rattler with 4
zslip moose on the end Of a stick, then
I'd catch a bull snake and turn them
Goose onter one another, and they.
would fight like varmints. The bull
snake most always won, although he
aint bison and the RATHER is. And
what's more. it wouldn't matter If the
xattler was twice as big as he was
she bull snake always swallowed hin
whole
The professor knew well enough
Row his companion killed snakes
He would climb on top Of some con,
genient object ami get white as {
sheet. but if no safe place showed "
Sle would run away.
knowing the above facts. the pro
Tessor meditated q few minutes be
fore speaking. Finally, be conclnd-
I'd to tell as big a story as his com
panion had told.
well Van, know you are a terri
BILE snake ezterminator, and YOU
remarks about the way snakes hgh
remind me Of an adventure [ ono
aad with an enormous bull snake o.
Otter creek"
Go ahead professor and give u
your yarn said Van Dusenberry.
'Ha-hem, here goes Van. In IS
7 went to Otter creek to collec
specimens. While there | stage
with Joe Crank. Ii that neighbor
hood the hills are high, stony am
steep. but once a person reaches th
top OF the hill he is on ground a
level as a croquet lawn. The noun
4ains are just far enough away to lool
grand. | climbed the hill benin
Irank's house early one morning, an,
after collecting g few specimens
stood gazing at the mountains, which
looked finer than usual; for, a high
snow had fallen on them during tn
night. Suddenly [ came to mysel
with the feeling that I was ready 70
the fried trout Joe was preparing TO
breakfast. [ descended the hill abou
five yards, when, | saw stretched flu
length before me an enormous snake
It was a bull snake at leas twent
feet long. 1t was asleep. [ stirre'
it up with my stick. Kissing it rails
ed its head, striking at my legs
yiciously. I struck the snake wit
such violence as to break my site
into fragments, but the snake was III
injured and the blow aroused its III
It struck at me open-mouthed.