The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-02-17
QUEER ANIMALS IN OLD MINES.


DISCO FtFcu below the Lnrtn-
In connection with the resumption Of
mining along the famous BLUE lead" in
this section a most peculiar discovery was
made. Among the mines now being
worked is the old Potter mine, owned by
Mrs. Ben Bishop. and rechristened the
Bishop mine. When the Bishop mine was
first reopened one Of the VIII boys entered
a dry slope leading TO a second shaft whose
existence was unknown. owing to a thick
growth Of brush and trees about IL, and
had nearly reached the shaft wien be no.
ticed n large number Of flies buzzing about
him in very troublesome manner. He
made several slaps at them. and accident
ally caught one.
On examining IL by the aid OF his Ian
tern he was nearly startled into letting 1t
go by the uncanny appearance Of the in
Sect II was absolutely white, with the
exception OF its eyes. which, having the
usual red color. seemed unusually large
and prominent. The red eyed white fly,
while not being common, Is not unknown
In the older mines, particularly the deep
coal mines Of the east; but this Is the first
time, so far as known, that they have been
found in any California mine where access
to light and the open air are too easily OBJ
tainable for flies to remain below long
enough to fade out.
Scarcely had Mr.. Will recovered from
his surprise ut the white flies when he was
startled again. this time by the whirring
sound Of rattlesnake's musical appara-
tus. Looking carefully around. he saw
the eyes Of the reptile and threw a rock at
them. The rattling promptly ceased. and
a mass Of white, glistening convolutions
writhed into view from behind a protrud
J.. IL
patched the creature, which proved to be
a RATHER over four feet long. One Of the
rocks thrown had knocked or good part
Of his snakeship's rattles. so his age was
not to be discovered, but he must have
been an old fellow The color OF the snake
was pure white. Though a temperate man
Mr. viii was not fully satisfied that he
was in his ordinary condition OF sanity
until he had dragged his prizes back to the
newly opened shaft and listened to the ex-
pressions Of surprise Of his companions at
the appearance Of the two captures.
Professor Harlow Ballard, Of Buffalo,
who was visiting Bangor In search OF min
eral specimens, secured the snake and sew
eral specimens Of the white flies. which he
has preserved and shipped to the east. The
professor is Of the opinion that the flies are
the offspring Of some imprisoned in the
slope years ago by the rising Of the water
in the lower workings. The old and par
TALLY filed shaft allowed air, but no light
to enter the slope, while the stream flow
ing into the slope may have provided then
with food.
The snake. he thinks, may have beer
carried down by the water while verl
young. as il is scarcely possible that it il
80 years old, which it would have been hat
il remained there ever since the mine wa
flooded. What the reptile ate during il
long captivity is among the mysteries
Since the reopening Of the Bishop min
the white flies have entirely disappeared
and a few which Professor Ballard KEEP
in a small glass case resumed the colors o
ordinary house flies within week ate
exposure to the light.-Bangor Cor. Sal
Francisco Examiner