Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-08
A WESTERN RESERVE SERPENT.
Longer Than from One Tree to Another and
ProportionateIy Big Around.
Ravenna DemooratIc Press.

Ravenna Democratic Press)
The pretty little town OF Hiram Is the
bright crown OF one Of the hilliest and
most rugged sections OF the Western Re-
serve OF Ohio. For many years 1t has
been believed that some kind Of mon
ster Inhabited the extensive marsh above
the Rapids. Many sheep and calves pas
turing along either border or the marsh
have mysterIously disappeared, and the
dIsappearances were so frequent as TO
render tho pasturing Of such precarious
and improbable. There Is tradition
that some early settler In Troy, While
hunting, had seen a huge serpent between
the Rapids and Troy bridge. But the
story was considered a myth till last
Friday evening, when the mystery was
solved.
Mr.. George w. Davis, who lives a mile
or more south Of the Rapids, and whose
farm slopes gently from the road west
to the river nearly a half mile, saw
plainly, Just before sunset, a huge black
serpent making down the river. II was
apparently two feet or more In diameter,
and its head rose twelve feet above the
water. On the bank OF the river are two
large maple trees by actual measurement
li9 feet inches apart from outside 10
outside. When seen by Davis the erected
portion of the monster was perhaps ten
feet below the lower tree while the tail
was. he thinks. few feet north of the
upper tree. Mr.. Davis thinks without
doubt the monster was at least lbO feet
I'm length. with chances that 1t was from
ten 10 twenty feet longer.
Thinking that the serpent had LETT its
haunts by reason OF the long-continued
drought. and was seeking new fields, ana
that probably it would pass Mantua sta
ton In the early evening, Davis rushed
to the house. informed his wife or MS
discovery. and requested her 10 INFORM
the neighbors. while he hurriedly har-
messed his horse and started for Mantua
Station. first. however. preparing his
trusty gun for the fray. little way
south OF Davis's residence II deep raVlne
leading to the river, across when ths
narrow road runs. and so densely wooded
with brush on either side that 1t Is twill
LIGHT at midday. When Davis reached
the foot of the north hill there was an
awful hiss. a tremendous cracking OF
brush. and his horse became unmanaBe-
able and dashed madly across the raNlhe
and up the opposite hill, when by some
means Davis was thrown out and rem
dered unconscious. and was FOUND an
hour or so later by neighbors who were
following on just as he had recovered
consciousness. After recovering the horse
they concluded " was 100 late TO follow
further. and they returned TO their homes
to discuss the event OF a lifetime.
Years ago the Rapids was thriVing'
PROSPEROUS village. 1t had as good wa
| ter-oower as there was in the country
| There was large Touring mill,
| the patronage OF which extended Tor
miles around. There was a large lumber
mill voOllen mill, stores, hotels, and nu-
, merous mechanics. The mill-dam was a
| source of contention between the owners
I and the people above. the owners OF the
marsh and the lands alongside. IL was
! claimed that the dam overfoWed the
marsh, which covered thousands OF acres
on either side Of the river and EXTENDED
north to short distance beyond burton
| and even into Clardon. The water above
/ the Raplds Is deep and sluggish. caused
| by the natural dam Of rocks 81 the IA
pids-a tit abode for such monster \
! long and expensive litigation followed
! ending I'm q compromise by which tht
/ owners Of the marsh became owners OF
! the mills An incendiary applied the loren
! and the splendid mill was in ashes me
| dam rotted away. but stlii the Watef'
! covered the marsh. Then there was an
! outlay of several thousand dollars 10 bi3sl
a channel through the rocks OF the rapid;
! in order to draw the deep water above
! hut without avail, save 10 hasten TN
| lowering OF the water in times Of floods
| The drying up Of innumerable springs
and perhaps the channei above referrec
to together with the long continued
! drought. so dried up the marsh as tt
! make the stay OF the monster unnatural
az il probably cannot long remain on drS
/ land.
Parties are being organized to hunt th'
monster. and IL II II Is yet in the marsf
we shall expect soon to hear OF Its cap