The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-30
SNAKES OF BELLEvILLE.
TTJJT ORCHARDS AND an OLD NINE
TlRmGNTs no GET PESEY PLENTY

MAS Baske hHH- aFH o. ANV AhNNNs
The old Aren't Schuyler copper mine, near
Belleville. in Essex county " j.. had an inter
ostInR early history Of It's own. The historian
OF Essex county states that the copper mine
was discovered by negro slave. the property
OF Col Aren't Schuyler. in 1919. One day the
slave came 10 his master and displayed
specimen OF greenish ore which he had picked
up on hillside on the estate. which
proved upon analysis to be copper carbonate.
carrying about 80 per cent OF mineral As a
reward for his discovery the slave was told by
mis- master that he could ask for and receive
the three things he most wished. SO far from
wanting the earth. the simple negro chose
that he should remain with hio master, that is.
not be sold that he should have all the tobacco
he could smoke. and a red dressing gown like
his masters.
Col. Schuyler at once started mining work on
his copper lode. A tunnel was run in the hill
eide where the discovery was made, and a
shaft was sunk TO meet IL. The Colonel brought
from England for his mine. at a cost OF U.s.
900. the first pumping engine brought into
this country II Ia reported that the mine paid
we'll for q time. and was worked at intervals,
until the great copper mines OF Lake Superior
were discovered. Then the Schuyler mine was
abandoned. The within rotted away and fell
into the shaft. which filed up to the level OF
roof the crumblinR tlmbers and loosened rocks
mixed with the Rreenish slime from the vein
OF ore. II became an ideal place to locate
snakes and snake stories. and the people OF
Bslleville have had a number OF exciting ex-
periences which prove either the potency oil
their favorite brand OF appleIack. or that the
snakes Of that neighborhood appreciate the
abandoned tunnel for the peculiar advantages
1t offers them as a rendezvous.
1t was ten years ago last July that Farmer
Charles Donohue. whose farm is near the old
mine. had an experience in tho tunnel which
first gave it It's present reputation. Farmer
Donohue began missing chickens from his
place. and by watching his barnyard one night
discovered red fox sneaking away with fat
hen thrown jauntily over his shoulder. At
early daybreak the farmer and two hounds
gave chase for the thief and. after hard run.
sent the fox into the tunnel of the copper mine.
One hound followed In. but soon returned
Siesdins from a bad wound. Donohue "ouId
not understand how his dog could get the
his r Way " over s the rough door 81 the tunnel on
q voyage OF discovery. SO far the narrative
il a1dspn,sd history II the
had worked aloS! almost e ~ Soiat
and there he stopped. for he heard not only
the cries q the fox but stFpengo Kissing Using
noises By tne IlEHt OF " indtCn. pOuO-
hue Gays. he saw a little ahead Of him. in a
corner OF the tunnel. the fox on its back strug-
fling in the coils Of two n; n snsk Ess
The report Of the sc6arse aroused what
seemed to the farmer, to be innnmerable other
snakes. and in the darkness Donohue felt o
grasp around hi. arm and bite. He dropped
his gun and scrambled with all speed 70 the
such it was. which had coiled around his arm,
He esSsssd the bHt ,bsSd mouth tim h1 dead
had run. and now lay out In the open dead his
body encircIed bya live snake and the head sss
sS Soty holes aga IN the boay but MN Tr 0 Donohne
thinks he believes that when he shot the head
of OF one snake the fox had been relieved
finally overcome Il and crushed It's life out.
The wound on the farmers arm, was cured az:
the story he exhibits the well limb.
Since that time it has been we'll known that
Greatly increased after each good apple year.
and that at such periods there are many
CATION has been made Of the copper
1ss6 TsSs sss & ssis1d ssS
tice Connell and Major ODay and John Dooley.
But interesting and Instructive as are the re-
eral interest will probably attach TO the unset
snttas observations made b tive intelligent
Willie Jerome and Charles Stevens. BY mere
accident they observed the phenopen0n:
Tunnel Snake Ball"
before relating what the. boys saw Il may bs
ball as its development and habits have been
observed by, Alderman Conltn. 1t takes, ne
says. q month usually TO make the ball The
Alderman once saw a bali started, with but
three snakes. and thereafter visited II for sci.
ceased to grow. After a bali has been
started active young snakes are sent out
that it is time to begin the winter ball. ami 10
invite them 10 roll in with the PARTY. When
il rolled itself Into dark corner u the tunnel,
there 10 remain until the genial Weather Of
spring should induce Il TO unroll and scatter
itself into its Individual component parts.
What the two Beleville hoy: saw Is believed
by the elderly snake experts, OF the community
ter from the unreasonable weather. The
snakes. 1t is thought, became restless on
actually deceived into the belief that spring
Well here is what the boys say they saw.
cedar trees near the entrance to the tunnel
o. Saturday a;,s59S.G2 I .,'r,c,ss The,
strange noise which. they say: seemed TO
them 10 be conbpStion OF drumming
toward the tunnel. and when they came within
sight OF its mouth stopped short and hid
from tho mouth OF the tunnel. a bali Of snakes
that must have been at least hye ieet in diam;
as Il emerged thrrefrom. The mass gave the
boys the impression OF Icing solid. eN,
except on It's surface WhIch was Hayed
and ragged covering Of flying tails. strik-
ing heads. and darting tongues. As the ball
was made up Of great variety OF snakes.
among which are some that have many bright
hues, Il CLEANED and flashed in the light. IL
rolled over and over. down the hill, Ikea snow
ball the boys say, until the bottom was reached.
and there Il stopped. After struggle there
was untangled from the bottom Of the heap a
large black and copper colOTed snake, which,
after releasing itself from its fellows rose up
in a corkscrew coil fully 1ye feet In the air.
This leader, for such he +iterwart proved
himseftu he. NAV have been look ing about he
country for signs OF spring. md failing to ind
them. ordered a retreat. The boys are con-
hdent that the other snakes. which had now un-
col ed received their orders from the leader,
which he gave by series OF Kisses. They
formed into regular lines, and as nearly as The
Young observers can estimate they covered a
square of az least thirty feet-black, green
yellow. and striped snakes. They manTuyred
about until their colors appeared IN distinct
lines and then. following their leader. re-
turned to the tunnel. The boys all this time
were hidden behind a tree and young Jerome
| assured a sun reporter that II he had not seen
this he would not believe IL