Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-28

Virginia FREE gress.
the Pump Snake.

From the Anaconda (Montana) Stan
dard we get the following snake story,
which we commend to our friend Snyder
of the shepherdstown Register. as of the
genuine Anaconda Standard make:
In Central Dakota, on the missouri
bottoms" there exists one Of natures
strangest freaks, says that scientific pub
LEGATION known as Fire and Water. The
settlers term it the "pump snake" How
it came there and where it came from is
unknown. II first made its appearance
in Emmous county in the spring time of
1886 A full grown pump snake"
measures about Is feet in length and
about inches in diameter. They are of
gregar GUS habits, roaming the prairie in
large herds, as many as 800 having been
counted in single flock. In dissecting
one of these reptiles there Is found tube,
which extends from the root of the jaw
to the extremity of the tail, and termina-
ting in an opening. The tube Is about
two inches in diameter and lined with a
soft, yielding substance similar to rubber.
The pump snake is easily trained to an
swer the call of man. Che inhabitants
of this section trap them in large num-
bers.
A farmer on Cat Tail creek has a
flock of 20 pump snakes trained to a re-
markable degree of proficiency. AT the
blast Of whistle the snakes assemble on
the banks of the creek The leader
(there is always a leader to a herd of
these snakes, who is elected by two
thirds majority dashes into the water of
The creek, leaving only the extrem-
ity of its tail on the bank. An
other snake Immediately grasps the end
of the leaders tail in his jaws, third
snake takes hold of the second snake S
tail in a similar manner, and so on, ex-
tending to the water troughs in the cat
tie yards, 800 feet away. The leading
snake begins to swallow or pump the wa
ter of the creek, which passes through
the long line of snakes as it would thro
hose, and falls in heavy stream into
the trough.
The agricuturist told of an extraordi
nary circumstance which occurred short
time ago. While working in the field
near his home he observed flames issuing
from the root of his barn. Wild with
excitement he hurried to the burning
building, only to see that it was hope
less task for himself alone to attempt tC
extinguish tAe flames. In despair he
gazed on the destruction. Suddenly he
heard a loud rustling in the tall grass
whence issued his herd of pump snake;
on the run. The leader hurled himself
into the creek, the rest instantly adjusted
themselves heads and tails from the creek
to the burning building. The last snake
standing on his head, waved its long and
flexible body, aud from the tail of which
issued stream of water that was thrown
with terrific force on the burning build.
ing. Back and forth dashed the tail end
of the living hose, Squirting the water
where it would do the most good, while the
loud pumping Of the leader could be
heard above the roar of the confiagration
Within Is minutes the last spark was
out. Then, and not until then, did the
pump SNAKES quit work. They were
completely exhausted, The leader having
tainted dead away The main part Of
the building and its contents we're saved
thanks to the presence of mind of these
wonderful snakes.
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