Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-03-21
THOUSANDS OF SNAKES.
A Venerable Kentuckian Tells tho Bigge
story of the Season.

| story of the Season.
Thaddeus Drummond, who resides
near Blue Lick. Ind, while at the old
settlers meeting at Charleston, related
n snake story which he claims to DO
true. On account OF his known repu-
tation for veracity the story is credited
by many OF Drummond's friends.
Near Drummond s house is Il small
cavern extending back into hill sew
eral feet and bounded on all sides by
rock. II faces to the south, aud on ac-
count OF the hill protecting II from tho
north winds 1t is considerably warmer
upon the inside OF the opening than
upon the outside. Among the other
earthly possessions OF Drummond was
n wolf crossed dog, sent him by friend
in Kansas. Tho animal was very saw
age and until last Monday was never
known to show fear to any living crea-
ture, On the day mentioned Drum
mond started to woods near by for
the purpose OF gathering wild grapes.
The dog went with him, and while pass
ing through brier field scared up a
rabbit. A hot chase followed, which
ended In the little animal darling in
the cavern, followed by tho dog. The
latter came out in less than minute,
shivering with fright, and aftor going
round in circle for short time took
n course due west as fast Us he could
possibly run and has never been heard
OF since, Drummond being under the
impression that he never stopped until
he reached his former home in Kansas.
Drummond by this time had reached
a point near the opening OF the hole.
and strange noise, similar TO the buz.
zing OF swarm OF bees, accompanied
by PECULIAR rafting, fell on his ears.
coming from the hole the rabbit had
gone into. Peering into the recess
sight met his eyes which almost froze
the blood in his veins. Kissing and
squirming, knotted into n ball about
the size of a -four barrel. was one great
mass OF snakes OF all sorts and sizes
that habitate that part OF the country.
In the embrace OF the conglomeratlon
was the lifeless body OF the little rab-
bit The animal to escape one death
had run into another more horrible. |
The intrusion OF the dog and rabbit had
put the reptiles upon their me,tle, and
the noise they made was what Drum
mond heard.
The sight had strange fascination |
for prummond, and he was held spell.
bound viewing their movements. He |
says that thorc must have beea thou |
sand oil the reptiles, and they all seemed |
TO be governed by one little green fell |
low, who crawlel around the ball hiss
Ing aud switching his tail as II giving |
orders. In few minutes the COM |
mander hal restored order, aud every |
thing was perfectly quiet.
Another old settler spoke up and said |
that he had seen nearly the same sight
at the same place few years pbefore.
and that the presence OF the snakes
was no unusual thing, rs they came
there every seq son TO winter As soon
rs the first frosts begin to fall. said he,
they commence descending from the
knobs to get out OF the chilly atmos.
phere. A they begin to collect they
themselves togath,r. and as
they increL's in nnmbs.'3 the ball 10
creases in size until the last snake in
the vicinity has reached Its winter
quarters. When the whether gets cold
they become dormant and remain 10
that state until the sun warns them up
In the spring, when they again make
for the bushes on tho knobs, where they
are found in large numbers during the
months. - Louisville Courier
Journal,