Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-10
THEY GROW LARGE IN CALL
FORNIA.
Not Only Pumpkins and Pears and
Redwoods, but Snake Stories, Too.
From the Cdldveras Chronicle,


From the CdIdoerdS Chronicle,
Another big snake has been seen in
Calaveras. Our informant is MIR. A.
Lascy, Deputy United States Mineral
Surveyor, who res DIES at West Point. MIR.
Lascy and his son, Frank, were on trip
into the mountains. They had reached a
point on the old emigrant road, near the
Big Meadows. Mr.. Lascy, ST., is per-
fectlY familiar with the whole of that
mountain country, and had decided ON a
camping place few miles further on.
But coming TO an old log cabin on the
road, in watch Mr.. Lascy put up before
while on surveying trips, they concluded
TO take a leok into the cabin, water their
horses from spring in the gulch below,
and possibly make that their camping
place. They accordingly stopped their
team, got out, aud proceeded to explore
the cabin, as 1t looked very dtlapidated,
the roof being partly crushed in by the
weight of winter SHOWS. Mr.. Lascy fol-
| loved by his son, went to the low cabin
| door, which was closed. but not locked,
! pushed 1t open and stopped TO enter, when
| he was struck with terror at the sight of a
mons ter reptile, which, for size and hide
BUSINESS of appearance, surpassed any
| thing that he had ever seen or that b g
really believed did exist on land. lie
never was a 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
| was completely kLo liked out at sight of
this living specimen of monstrOus
| rentile.
Tle cabin is 16 feet by IS feet. The
snake lay stretched across the cabin with
lis head near and facing tie door, and its
| tai reachIng to the opposite side and
partly cooled against some stones that had
been used for fireplace. With it's head
| elevated about three feet from the floor
and drawn a tile backward by the
stately curve of the neck, evidently to
make room for the swing of the opening
door. the huge monster raced his intrud-
ers. Both men carried rifles, and as the
elder Lascy started back, the son brought
his rife To mis- shoulder and fired at the
reptiles head. Mr.. Lascy, quickly recov-
erng himself, fired also, and almost at the
same time. There was terrible shutf1-
ing sound for a second and like flash the
snake scaled the walls of the cabin
through an opening CLOSE TO the caves and
disappeared, and as he was going over
piece 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, out missing the b ad struck
tne tan, WHICH WAS IN range on the OPP
pOsite 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 a mans waist. Mr.. Lascy brought the
tail home as d proof OF his adventure.
The snake was at the least Is feet long.
The body was immense, as can be judged
by the tail, ana as it lay upon the floor,
partially tlattened, it appeared to be fully
eight inches in breadth. 1t was covered
with alternate black and white rings.
Mr.. Lascy says thai from the fright which
me sudden and unexpected sight occas-
Toned and the rapid disappearance of the
reptile alter the sbO0tiDg-for after they
fired they quickly retreated from the door
it IS impossible to give a minute de-
scription of the appearance Of the mon
ster, other than It's color and enormous
SiZn-