The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-02
FIRING A SNAKES DEN.
Men on the Tree Tops Watched the De-
struction of the Reptiles

men On Sno AEcS ASPe ''esSs~@ VIZ ~
struction of the Reptiles
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
On the headwaters Of Brushy creek.
near the ruins of old Hampshire Fur
mace, is a depression between the hills
known as Rattlesnake Hollow. and GER
tain II is that 1t bears out the idea sug-
gested by its cognomen, as greater
number Of these poisonous reptiles can
not be found in a similar area anywhere
on the face of the earth.
On either side of the gorge the mount
aims rise almost perpendiculary several
hundred feeta nd abound in towering cliffs
upon the brows of which. during the first
warm spring days, hundreds OF monster
rattlers may be seen basking In the sun
light. The mountain sides are covered
with dense masses of huckleberry bushes
and tangled vines, beneath which the
reptiles Turk, ready to sink their deadly
fangs into any object bold enough to in
wade their retreat. A great many brutes
annually die from the bites of these poi
sonous serpents and within the past doz-
en- years no less than seven persons have
come to their death from the same cause.
During the present season several per-
sons have been bitten and the snakes be-
came SO numerous and bold that the in
habitants decided that something must
be done to thin out the pests or they
would be forced to abandon the country
to the serpents. A short time ago a eau
Gus was held, and, after a great deal OF
consultation, novel means OF dealing
with the reptiles was adopted. 1t Is
known that this time of the year the
snakes do not confine themselves to the
immediate vicinity of their retreats, but
are dispensing over the surrounding ter
ritory in the thick brush and shady
hooks. 1t was thought that by firing
along the entire crest Of the mountain
surrounding the hollow the serpents could
be driven down the gorge to its mouth.
With this object in view a trench four
feet in width and six feet in depth was
dug across the mouth of the gorge.
Everything being in readiness, last
Tuesday was decided upon as the time
for the great roundup. A dozen men,
each with a pocketful of matches, dis
persed themselves around the crest OF
the mountains at intervals OF a few hum
dred yards, and at a given signal the pro-
cess of firing the leaves began. There had
been no rain for nearly three weeks and
the brush, leaves and dead brush upon
the ground were as dry as finder. Light
ed matches were dropped every few
| yards, and in the course OF 20 minutes
a wall of flame encircled the gorge on all
sides, save a space a couple of rods In
width at its mouth, where the trench had
] been cut, and where the men soon adj
collected to witness the success or fall
ure of the scheme
A good stiff breeze was blowing directly
| down the hollow, and the roaring, crack
| ling wall of fire rapidly advanced, the
circle gradually narrowing on all sides as
| II approached the mouth. Before long
| few startled hares and foxes came fleeing
like the wind before the advancing flames
| and with a bound cleared the ditch and
soon disappeared. AS the fire approached
nearer several blue racers glided up and
| fell plump into the ditch.
| The fire was now whiting 100 yards Of
| the mouth of the gorge and the men at
| once climbed into the trees which stood
| close by. Presently the rattlers began to
! arrive. A few great, repulsive-looking
| fellows, with heads erect, their tongues
darling out and their small eyes spark
/ ling wfckedly. tumbled into the trench
and lay there rafting viciously.
Presently a shout was raised, and all
| turned their eyes in the direction of the
| fire, when a sight met their gaze that
caused their hearts to leap and their
| hair to stand on end. A few yards in
front of the fire came an army of giant
rattlers, apparently gliding along upon
| their tails their heads elevated three feet
above the earth, and looking back
| at the advancing enemy, from which
they seemed loath to fee. 1t was a grand
| and majestic sight as the magnificent
serpents, like a body of fleeing soldiers.
came gliding on and disappearing the mo-
ment they reached the edge of the
| trench 1t was but a short time until all
was over and the exultant men climbed
down from their perches to view the
scene. The trench was half full of SER
pents, striking and struggling in their
vain endeavors to escape.
After gazing at them in bewilderment
| for a time. they began to fill the ditch
with stone and dirt. and soon the hole
was hidden from sight. 1t Is confidently
| predicted that 1t will be many years be-
] fore the reptiles again secure so firm a
| foothold in this locality.