Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-02-24
THE PUMP SNAKE.
A Reptile Who Il OF Great Use in Da-
kota, They Sny.

| Reptile Who Is OF Great Use in Da-
| kota, They Sny.
In central Dakota, ON the missouri bot
| TOMS" there exists one of natures strangest
freaks The settlers term it the pump
snake" How it came there or where it came
| from is yet unknown. 1t first made its ap-
pcarance in Emmons county in the spring Of
1886. A full grown pump snake measures
about sixteen feet in length and about three
! inches In diameter. They are Of gregarious
habits, roaming the praries in large herds as
many rs 300 having been counted In single
flock. In dissecting ono Of these reptiles
there is found tube which extends from the
roof OF tho jaw to the extremity Of the tail,
and terminating in all opening. This tube Is
about two inches in diameter, and lined with
u tough, yielding substance similar to rub
Der. The pump snake is easily trained to an
swer the call Of man. The Inhabitants in
this section trap them In large numbers
A farmer on Cat Tail creek has a flock Of
twenty pump snakes trained to n remarkable
degree of proficiency. At the blast OF .
whistle the snakes assemble on the banks OF
the creek Tho leader ltscre Is always q
leader 10 a hord OF these snakes, who 10
elected by two-thirds majority dashes into
the water OF the creek, leaving only the ex-
tremity of its tail on the bank. Another
snake Immediately grasps the end Of the
leaders tail In it, jaws, third snake takes
hold Of the second snakes tail IN a similar
manner, and so on until there Ia continuous
line OF snakes joined end on, extending TO the
water troughs In the cattle yards, 800 feet
away. The leading snake commences to
swallow or pump tho waters Of the creek,
which passes through the long line Of snakes
as 1. would through a hose and falls In .
heavy stream into the trough.
This agrlculturist told OF an extraordinary
circumstance which occurred a short time
ago. While working In tho field near his
homo 10 observed flames issuing from the
roof of his barn. Wild with excitement no
hurried to the burning building, only to see
that 1t was n hopeless task for himself alone
10 attempt to extlnguish the flames In
despair he gazed on the work OF destruction;
suddenly hs heard loud rustling In the tall
grass, whence issued his herd OF pump
snakes on the run. The leader hurled him
self into tho creek the rest instantly adjust
ing themselves, heads and tails, from the
creek to the burning building. Tho last
snake. standing ON its head, waved its long
and flexible body, from the tail end OF which
issued stream Of water that was thrown
with terrific force on tho burning building.
Back aud forth dashed the tail end Of that
living hoe. squirting tho water where il
would do the most cool, while the loud
pumping OF the leader could 10 heard above
the roar OF the conhagration. Within fifteen
minutes tho last spark was out Then, and
not until thon, did the pump snakes quit
work. They were completely exhausted, the
leader having tainted away. The main part
OF the building and its contents were saved,
thanks to the presence of mind Of these won
derful snakes
The territorial government Is becoming
awakened TO tho extreme usefulness of these
interesting creatures, and laws are to be OH
acted To protect the pump snuke-Dakota
Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean.