Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-08-06
THE JUG WAS A SNAKE TRAP.
A Five Foot Black Snake which Was
Caught ia a Curious Manner.

Caught in a Curious Manner.
One sultry afternoon in August, on
a hunt, with horse and buggy, for pre-
historic Indian relics, | came to- di-
lapidated fence hat inclosed a cabin
and truck patch at the foot Of the
bluffs east of the ancient hamlet of
Prairie du Pont, below the Falling
springs.
Ny horse and myself we're both
thirsty and tired. | opened the rickety
gate and commenced an inspection Of
the place. when ! saw a middle aged
negro man coming up from the tar
corner Of the garden.
On making my wants known he led
the way 10 = Zine large spring. bub-
bling up from the edge Ci the rocks.
and handed nc u guurd full OF its
clear. cold water While satisfying
my thirst my courteous host dipped up
a large lin puiltul of water and carried
IL Out b. my horse, who no doubt APP
~preciatcd the refreshing kindness fully
as much a. | did
The thirst Of man aud beast satiated,
the sable gentleman politely asked me
TO take Il seat on a bench IN the shade
Of his splendid naples and rest awhile,
remarkIng, aail by way Of apology for
not Offering more elaborate hospitality,
that Inns folks were gone To a neigh
bor's whose wife was yer lex, and
they would probably not return until
night. II then
The cabin, built Of logs, was about
fourteen feet square aud at one end
had an annex in the shape Of q shed
room without floor, constructed Of
rough plank. This rooun, near which
j sat, ! rightly inferred, from the
rusty stoycpipo that protruded above
the clapboard roof, served the purpose
Of kitchen, pantry and dining room.
We had been talking some little
time when we were suddenly startled
by a crashing noise IN the vacant
kitchen, as though caused By the fall
ing and breaking Of glass o crOckery.
My host rushed 10 the door and threw
II open, and was just at his heels,
but with 2 glance IN the hoyel he
started back SO precipitately that ]
had 10 dodge quickly 10 escape the
consequence Of the collision.
Rahying Immediately we advanced
20 the door, and saw a great black
snake. live feet in length, writing
ana struggling among fragments oil
shattered q~ueensware, as though max
ing = desperate attempt 10 free itself
from some sort OF rapthut held il and
impode1 its locomotion
ME.L a..NI ..r....l .H..Na. II . lA. g44f
the uua,lcome intruder IN two about
the middle AID then our autopsy re-
veuled bow strangely the thieving rep
tile had SHARED himself.
Along side Of the room. IN a
space -four feet wide. were four or five
rude. narrow shelves that lit.1d the
Office of o cupboard, and ON which
were ranged the family plotes, dishes,
etc.
About midway Of some OF these
shelves bad stood u small c~artlrnware
jug Ranked on either side by o few
RpccimsDg Of the ceramic ait.
Tue uatron OF the estgbii bment,
bcloit leaving home that luuruiug,
bod gatha71l Csc fresh cggs nom The
diheraut ngaE about The poultry yardi
and, in dsposIting them 40 random
whore sgocl was found ou Che shelves,
she had placed "a single Cgg un one
side oi the jog beiorc mentioned and
several othtis on too other hide Of il.
TIE sorponL la exploring tie desert
ed apartment ~ qaesi Of food, had