Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-09-30
They Grow Larger in cal,rornia. [,

CdlaVerd5. Our lllOlnAhut ID MI. A.
Lascy, Deputy United States Mineral
Surveyor, who resides at West Point.
Mr.. Lascy and his son, Frank, were on
q trip into the mountains They had
reached a point on the old emigrant I
road, near the Big Meadows. Mr.
Lascy, ST., is perfectly familiar with
the whole of that mountain country
and had decided on q 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 spring in the gulch
below, and possibly make that their
camping place. They accordingly
stopped their team, got ont. and pro-
ceeded to explore the cabin, asit 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 1t open
and stopped to enter, when he was
struck with terror at sight of a 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. Henever 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 ont at sight of this.
living specimen Of a monstrous rep.
tile. . G5 y.
The cabin is sixteen feet by sixteen
feet. The snake lay stretched across
the cabin with its 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
fireplace. With its head elevated
abedt 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
as the elder Lascy started back, the
son brought his rifle to his shoulder
and fred at the reptiles head. Mr..
Lascy, quickly recovering himself, fired
also, and almost at the same time
There was terrible shufiling sound for
second and like flash the snake
scaled the walls of the cabin through
an opening close to the caves and dis
appeared, and as heiwas going over Q
piece of his tail ftll, from the wall tx
the floor. Whether both shots Iiat
effect or not it cannot be said but one
shot certainly did, but missing the heaG
struck the tail, which was in range or
the opposite side against the rocks, ant
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 q proc
of his adventure. The snake was a
least sixteen feet long. The body wa
immense, as can be judged by the tail
and as it lay upon the floor, partially
flattened, it appeared to be fully eigh
inches in breadth. II was covered witt
alternate black and white rings. MI
Lascy says that from the fright whicl
the sudden and unexpected sight occa
stoned and the rapid disappearance 0
the reptile after the shooting-bu
after they fired they quickly retreate
from the door-it is impossible to Civ
a minute description IF the appearance
of the monster, other than its colo
and enormous size. 4ta8