The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
SOME KENTUCKY SNAKES.
REPTILES WHOSE SIZE rs DULY
TOUOHED FOR.
a Rattlesnnko which Measures EiEhteen Feet
in benEth ana Nino Inches Through. with
Two Feet OF RattIes-A Twenty
That Swallows MoEs-And There Are Other-.

L w WV ~ NWcnlys 0OtPR
That Swallows hoRs-And There Arc Others.
From the Courier Journal.
WEST LIBERTY, Aug. GA huge rattlesnake
has for fifty years been known to live in the
cliffs OF Jennie's Creek, johnson county, and
many attempts have been made to CAPTURE it.
One day last week n COW belonging to Dan Dayia.
who lives In the neighborhood, was bitten nv n
snake, and by marks in the sand and weeds in
the pasture field Mr., Davis concluded at once
that the COW was bitten by this huge RATHER, and
offered 1875 to any ono who would kill Il.
One OF Mr.. Daviss farm hands armed him
self with two 3s-calibro pistols. and fol.
lowed the trail about a mile to n cave
IN the cliffs. Climbing q sapling overlooking tho
mouth of the cave, no remained there between
three and four hours, when the monster APP
peared. The hunter fired nine shots into tho
snake before he killed it, and on measuring 1t 10
was found to DO eighteen feet long. Its body in
circumference measured twenty nine inches.
The rattles on It's tail wero two feet long and
eight inches broad. Citizens of go and 20 years
OF ago who live in the vicinity say that when
they were young they heard people talk of q
monster snake inhabiting those cliffs, and signs
Oh the reptile have been seen every few years.
TwENrT.FtvE FEET IN LENGTH.
from the Richmond CIiror.
While over in Fayetto county visiting several
W. ""o ioAu W VII II W. OAHU
bell of White Station by several citizens of the
Pine Grove neighborhood concerning n huge
snake that has been seen frequently this sum-
mer In that section, which has created much
excitement and uneasiness among the people in
general. He gave little credence to tho story m
first. owing to the fact that it sounded rather
unreasonable. but after being told about this
monstrous reptile by the best citizens of the
Pine Grove neighborhood, and learning of the
AyCitnmanf a. Ind craataa Nv ra,n,Lol 49,
to the conclusion that tho story was actually
based on facts.
Mr.. Dan Scott, n wcll.known farmer, residing
ono milo from the little town of Pine Grove.
says that he had lost several OF his hogs and
sheep this summer without forming any idea an
to how they had made their disappearance. un.
til just recently he went out to his hogpen
early one morning and was greatly surprised to
see a snake leaving, which. no says, he will
swear would measure twenty-five feet In length.
Mr.. Scott says that two or three OF his shoats
were missing on the morning that this huge rep
1t some distance in the direction OF a large cave.
ABOUT one mile off, located on the farm of Mrs.
Jane Gay. Around this cave Is u dense thicket
OF ash, shrubbery. which it is almost Impossible
Tor a dog TO pass through. and no ono has ever
the thicket Surrounding since the snake KEW wa "a
first seen in that locality. Mr.. Jake GAY of
nidn rsns5o who 10 L widely known as the cham:
CROSSING the road. He fired at 1t with his shot
gun. but with no effect, and 1t kept moving in
the direction Of the cave.
II our readers doubt tho authenticity of this
or to any of the following. who will snbstan.
tiate our Bcn Gay, b. W. Couch
county. The only explanation Of the presence
OF thls monster serpent e that a circus train
ago, when many of the animals and reptiles es.
capped: This snake was never recaptired. and
has grown 10 its present size Off the sheep and
hogs of the farmers of that locality.
As THICK AS A TELEPHONE roLE.
From the Mor0untorn Republican.
His blood ran cold and each particular hair
feeline 81 Of 'J John 2p a. Seel ' iasf fo Fridnr and the
about 3 o'clock while out in the hrier patch
snraii;D where sarne me E came m c across aTss the the m9st blood
and which he hopes it will never be his lot 10
ing with his buckets to pick black berries. While
passing, along a path in the brier patch he came
seeing it move his second Thought was that it il was
a hog. On a closer look. imagine his horror to sec
Ncel briefly describes as follows: Its body was
as large as the telephone pole that stands near
about ton inches in diameter. 1t had "pides"
on 1t as large as plates. Its ~rattles altogether
feet of its body, the balance being hid by the
briers: Its head was fully six inches wide. lie
took it to be about fifty years old.
has been seen for the last last fifty years about the
s s5ribesi in q a f Eoui sSk e'i paper aa U oniy seen q few ah Years. are;
ago by a drummer; Uncle Josiah Wade saw tho
S Wama shs ss@ i Mes sn G9lam a6d ! Ne e when he a young
question that there lives in the bluffs and caves
IT the hills west OF town a monstrous reptile.
snake is not seen more often. but some account
for ,hisb by saying that he stays in the cave and
feeds on rabbits. foxes: coons. and such things
as come his way without stirring out much.
There are some who believe Mr., Neels story in
toto. and think that search should be instituted
ana an effort maze 10 capture the reptile, DnG
Mr.. Neel declares that he would not go to the
Riyes says he viii give $40 for the monster's
Ri1s $50 MT fo SPPfFaEuS; ,I the lie oi nan; says q so he viii hn
TO Mr.. Neel's description.
ATE A PECK OF STONE SEsTEGGs. o.
From the Mount rcrnon Republican.
Some days ago a lady in Rockcastle county.
who had a few hens and was depending on hen
frult for a square meal, commenced missing her
eggs. Getting out Of eggs for a nestegG. she
went TO the spring and selected a white stone of
the proper size and shape and put 1t in the nest.
At night. when she went 10 gather the eggs, It
was gone, as were also all the eggs laid that day.
and gathoredd It fnli of II pebbles Cd Is" 81 size and
shape OF hens eggs and put them IN the nest.
mense blacksnake lay helpless near the nest.
Any one can imagine what condition an eight
a peck of gravel, she dispatched the snake and
has had no trouble with her hens since.
COr.ED IN A HENS NEST.
From the GiasDop Sems.
''nc eNtnlnE .ldsI Weck, WHO Mr.. ian 1enfrO
and family of tho Cedar Grove country were
sitting on their front porch. just after dark,
they heard "A noise made by a hon that roasted
on the ground with a brood OF chickens Just over
the fence in the garden. and on going to investi-
gate Mr.; Renfrq discovered a large snake Of the
cow.sucker, variety coiled up in the nest. The
snake had killed one of the chickens and was
devouring 1t when discovered by Mr.. Renfro,
who killed IT. The snake was over six feet long
and large in proportion, and had been killing
chickens a, q lively, rate for some time, as, Mr.
ltcnfro had lost quite a number. and had been
unable 10 account for their disappearance.
TWENTY Eight KILLED by A GIRL
From the Cadfs Telephone.
AT her home near Pilgrims Rest last Thurs
day Miss {. 4. Bush, bucket in hand. started for
water. On the way she came in contact with a
huge copperhead snake. Being n practical
minded, brave young woman, she seized II club
and speedily dispatched the reptile. 1t meas
nred d inches In circumference and , feet 1
inches in length. Suspccting the presence of
others, after a brief search she discovered n den
of twcnty-sevcn young coppcrhcads. These
were from thirteen to fifteen inches long. They
met the fate of the first, making in all twenty
eight reptiles less. Our informant failed TO say