The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-10-29
They Grow Larger IN California.

They Grow Larger IN California.
Another big snake has been seen in
Calaveras Our informant is Mr.. A.
Lascy, Deputy United States Mineral
surveyor. who resides at West Point.
Mr.. Lascy au,! his son. Frank, were on
a trip into VIZ. moi,ntains. They had
reached point on the old emigrant
road, near the Big Meadows. Mr..
Lascy, ST., is perfectly familiar with
the whole of that mountain country,
and had decided on a camping
place a few miles further on. But
coming to an old log cabin on the road,
in which Mr.. Lascy put up before while
on surveying trips, they concluded to
take look into the cabin, water their
horses from a spring in the gulch
below, and possibly make that their
camping place. They accordingly
stopped their team, got out, and pro-
ceeded to explore the cabin, as it looked
very dilapidated, the roof being partly
crushed in by the weight of winter
SHOWS. Mr.. Lascy, followed by his son,
went to the low cabin door, which was
closed, but not locked, pushed it open
and stopped to enter, when he was
struck with terror at sight of mon
ster reptile, which, for size and hideous-
ness Of appearance, surpassed anything
he had ever seen or that he really be-
lieved did exist on land. He never was
believer in the big snake stories that
he had heard, but he AYERS that every
particle of incredulity that he ever
possessed regarding these reports were
completely knocked out at sight Of this
living specimen Of q monstrous rep
tile.
The cabin is sixteen feet by sixteen
feet. The snake lay stretched across
the cabin with It's head near and facing
the door, and its tail reaching to the
opposite side and partly coiled against
some stones that had been used for
a fireplace. With its head elevated
about three feet from the floor and
drawn a little backward to the
stately curve Of the neck, evidently to
make room for the swing of the open
ing door, the huge monster faced his
intruders. Both men carried rifles, and
a. the elder Lascy started back, the
son brought his rifle to his shoulder
and fired at the reptiles head. Mr..
Lascy, quickly recovering himself, fired
also, and almost at the same time.
There was terrible shutting sound for
a second and like flash the snake
scaled the walls of the cabin through
an opening close to the caves and dis
appeared. and as he was going over
4,iece of his tail fell from the wall to
the floor. Whether both shots had
effect or not it cannot be said, but one
shot certainly did, but missing the head
struck the tail. which was in range on
the opposite side against the rocks, and
in going over the wall it was torn from
its slender hold. The severed piece was
six feet in length, and about the middle
was the size of mans wrist. Mr..
Lascy brought the tail home as a proof
of his adventure. The snake was at
least sixteen feet long. The body was
immense, as can be judged by the tail,
and as it lay upon the floor, partially
flattened, it appeared to be fully eight
inches in breadth. It was covered with
alternate black and white rings. Mr..
Lascy says that from the fright which
the sudden and unexpected sight occa-
stoned and the rapid disappearance of
the reptile after the shooting but
after they fired they quickly retreated
from the door-it is impossible to give
minute description of the appearance
of the monster, other than its color
and enormous size.
-.>~&o~s-
Separate Beds.
Much of the discomfort and nervous
ness Of which people complain when
thew arise in tho rnOrninu 10 6uo n <l,o