Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-22
AN ARMY OF SNAKES.
Horrible Battle in Which Thousands
the Reptiles Were Slain.

Horrible Battle in Which Thousands Of
the Reptiles Were Slain.
1t was on a summer afternoon way back
In the 40s when two young men of this city,
both of whom are now well-known editors
of newspapers in this State, repaired to
Duncan's Mill to fish, writes a Lewiston
(lll.i correspondent to the st. Louis Re-
ptbllc They were daring youths, and
chose not to heed the warnings of older
heads that it was extremely hazardous for
one to visit the spot. By reason of long
neglect the mill DAMS banks had become
thickly overgrown with weeds, but half
sunken log sufficed for the young men, and,
half disrobed, they sat and fshed, while
their sunburned legs dangled in the water.
The pond swarmed with game fish, multi
piled again and again, for no nets were
cast, and few, if any, lines were cast in this
gruesome part of the little river. Thus the
sport became exciting. Obvious to their
surroundings, the young disciples of lzaak
Walton piled their art with astonishing sue
cess. AS rapidly as fish was caught it
was strung upon stout cord and placed in
the water. Soon the string grew to enor-
nous size, and, not wishing to catch mere
than they could handle, the boys made
preparations to cease hostilities. In at
tempting, however, to draw their string
from the water. they were Mortified to dis
cover that huge snake had coiled its hor-
rid body round and round the mass of wrig-
Cling fish, and, upon seeing the two boys,
raised it's head with q Kissing noise. One
of the boys declares that the reptile was
fully ten feet long, and foot or two in cir
conference.
1.-THE gun, Ed, get the gun!" shouted
Frank to his terrified companion. No
sooner said than done In an instant the
deep forest resounded with the loud report
The charge blew the snakes head to atoms
and also severed the string that held the
fish. Slowly, in its death agonies, the huge
serpent uncoiled itself and lay upon the
water thrashing it into bloody foam.
A cry of horror from Frankl Look at
the old mill, Ed! See, 1t is covered with
snakes-horrid snakes. We must run for
our lives" Indeed, they had reason to be
terrified, for the guns report had aroused
countless deadly reptiles from their SUM
bers. The lettering old mill seemed to be
one mass Of kissing, squirming snakes.
Then, horror of horrors! lnnumerable
hideous reptile heads thrust themselves
from the old mill pond, adding their Kisses
to those on the mill. The air became filled
with noisome stencil, almost uncomfortable.
To these frightened boys it seemed as if
they were surrounded by millions Of snakes.
In terror they broke for the horses, which,
having become frightened, began snorting
with terror. AS the boys ran through the
tall grass to the timber, immense serpents
glided swiftly in front of them. They met
two huge rattlers IN their path, coiled to
strike. Here began battle for life, which
rrx-in 20 hot 6yyiy, In,, In
their haste both had chung TO their heavy
fish poles. With these weapons they
fought the two huge rattlesnakes for fully
ten minutes. No sooner, however. had they
dispatched these than five others appeared.
The now frenzied boys literally fought
their way through mass Of serpents, and,
jumping upon their horses rode home at
full speed. The horror of that event made
deep impression upon their lives. One of
the boys, who was afterward a survivor in
the memorable "Ocean Spray disaster,
SAYS that as between the two horrors he
would have no choice.
The experience Of these two lads had the
effect of organizing grand snake-hunting
party. About one hundred determined men
dressed so that a snakes fangs could do
them no harm, and armed with heavy clubs,
repaired to the old mill site What tran
spired has never been fully described. The
bravest among the men turned sick at the
ewful sights and doors that greeted them.
The battle lasted several hours, and was In
many instances a fight for life. Upon the
authority Of one who took part in that sw-
full affair, fifteen hundred SNAKES OF differ
ent varieties were destroyed. The sicken-
ing mass was buried in a huge trench One
snake measured eleven feet