Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-06-06
BIG AS A SAW LOG.
The Story That is Told About a
Pennsylvania Serpent.

Fiddle Lake, body of water of un
known depth, is located midway between
Ararat and Herrick. ON the Carbonate
branch. The public highway passes
along the left side of the lake. The
land at this point is heavily timbered,
but between the road and the lake the
ground is comparatively clear, affording
a fine view of this beautiful sheet OF
water.
A rocky ledge skirts he east side OF
the lake, and about the centre of this
ledge is a cavernous opening into which
the water flows. Boatmen have fire.
quently attempted to explore this cavern,
but its extreme darkness and the diff
Guilty of working boat into the narrow
opening has made it impossible except
for a few feet.
The lake is much frequented by fish
ermen, and for several years the story
has been kept alive by members of the
fraternity concerning the existence of a
monstrous snake or reptile of that sort
which, according to report, has been
seen on several different occasions near
the entrance to the cavern. All the
stories concerning the appearance and
movements Of this serpent, which was
said to be of enormous size, seemed to
agree but fishemen's stories are so
often based upon the use of too strong
bait that the reports were discredited,
and we only mention them because of
their connection with the adventure We
are about to relate, the facts of which
are as follows
George Schoevel-a German citizen
whose short residence III this country
has been characterized by strict at
tention to business and to the truth in
all his doings and sayings-on Friday
last hired horse and wagon to go to
Herrick, where he expected to meet
friend whom he had known in the
"Faderland He reached Ararat with
out mishap, and it was between that
place and Herrick that the adventure
occurred which will linger in his mem
DRY until the day of his death. He took
dinner at Walkers Hotel and was driv-
ing slowly along the shore of Fiddle
Lake, when his attention was attracted
by the pitiful yelping of dog in the
woods which line the shore on the west
side of the road. The noise came nearer
and nearer, and finally the sound of
cracking brush and 'swishing" bushes
announced the approach of some heavy
body.
The horse seemed terrified and uneas-
lily shifted the air. While endeavoring
to quietsthe animal, which began to
tremble, snort, and back, Schoevel
glanced in the direction of the sound,
and to his horror beheld the head of
monstrous snake holding in its mouth
small dog, which it was afterward learned
belonged to a farmer about mile dis
tant.
Scott in Himmell Who ged oudtl'
yelled Schoevel, as the reptile, with head
about three feet from the ground, pro-
ceeded leisurely to cross the road toward |
the lake.
As it left the road and passed over
the open space, Schoevel had ample |
time, after quoting his horse and him
self as well as possible, to observe its I
frightful proportions, and later on he
averred that ''Dot snake was |
long as dwenty feet and pigger as saw
log"
He also noticed that its progress over
the ground was unlike that Of a snake, /
being accomplished by curving the body
into. series of half circles, the latter
part of the body adhering TO the ground
while the head and forward part were
projected forward by Strengthening out
.he loops, the action being so rapid that
he motion was almost continuous.
When it plunged into the lake it seemed
20 have reached its native element, and,
It once diving below the surface the
'ki-yi-ing" of the unhappy dog, which
iad been continued until that time,
,eased forever.
AS Schoevel stood in terror and won
Ter, watching the lake where the mon
ter had disappeared, the water near the
centre rippled and suddenly the reptiles
lead again appeared still holding its
prey in its mouth Making directly for
he cavern before mentioned, it disap-
,eared within its walls. Schoeyel con-
inued his journey, and the next morn
ng ON his return stopped at the Jefler-
ION House here and excitedly told us
he story in substance as we have writ
en- it. He said: II sleep me not tam
ut all de night long, and / dond't go
,udt py mineself in dis country some
more, py chinks!" The truthfulness of
lis story no one doubts who has heard
i'm tell it, and now that the identity of
he "F'iddle's Lake serpent" has been
beyond question; the enter
rising residents of that section will
doubtless contrive some means for its
apture or destruction, and the loss of
lambs, chickens, &C., by the
of that locality will not be ac-
redited altogether to dogs, skunks, and
ther destructive quadrupeds. II Carbon
ale Leader.