The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
SOME ARIZONA STORIES.
Concerning Snakes, Harmful and Helpful,
"a ella Monster and Some Toads.
From 0e Denver Republican.

From the Denver Republican.
The mining camp Of Kingman was recently
invaded by a host OF rattlesnakes. creating
great CONSERVATION among the people. Snakes
were discovered in beds and made desperate
fights when tackled by the owners. People
sleeping outdoors narrowly missed a violent
death from the poisonous fangs OF the serpents.
The snakes wigglcd through the c~revices of
tight board fences, and We're caught whilee en-
deavoring. TO enter the houses. People have
taken TO sleeping upstairs. and a band stand
and pavilion are crowded every night by sleepers
who dare not risk sleeping on the bare ground.
a spell or unusually warm weather Is thought
to be the cause Of the snakes leaving their
rocky Businesses for u cooler abode in the set
tiement.
A man at Mesa City has a pet gila monster.
He let it &c about six weeks ago in order that
i might shed its skin, as is its annual custom.
looking thoroughly rejuvenated. Its owner
gave It q bath, after which It made q break for
fss feea es ses' a wde dthe IT i has 9esn In the habit OF
loads grow 70 an abn9rmal size in southern
Arizona and often exhibit 2 preternatural in.
Mesa City and inyriads Of bugs are in conse-
auence attracted at night by the glare. The
ply and eat the bugs that fall to the ground as
rapidlya as they come, within reach. 1t is sup
posed that the, new, diet has created an unnat-
from which to quench it they discovered the
thr9Tgjh p so that II receive zee rnt the drIiPFnings from N The
in the saloons and line up to the tronghs and
drink until they arc thoroughly intoxicated.
many falling to the floor as though dead, while
others unsteadily hop to the sidewalk and re-
sumo their feasting.
james, Thomas, u r%anchman living on the
Verde River in Yavapai county. has discovered
a scheme that threatens to reyolutionize exist
ing irrigatinE. methods. While walking along
the canal bank tho other day he observed an
enormous bull snake stretched at length, with
rs head In the water and its body pulsati4R
like Il steam pump. Observing the reptile stiil
more closely, he was amazed to see q stream of
water flowing from its tail. 1t was actually
pumping water. The bull snake is a harmless
creature. and AR. Thomas. seized with an idea,
also seized the snake. How to make 1t throw q
larger stream of water was the question, and
after considerable. thought he tried the ex-
pertinent Of cutting of a portion OF the
tail. by this means tho snake was in
duced to throw a full head of water at a mini
mum ,eNcrtiOn and seemed to enjoy the job.
Mr., Thomas captured many other bull snakes,
which, by association with the original pumper.
soon became adopts at the new system Of fri
eating. Then their tails were removed, and
for DAYS thc side Of the ranch next the river
was lined with snakes engaged in throwing up
streams OF water from an inch to All inch and q
half IN diameter. A mining man came along q
few days ago aud was struck with the novelty
Of the irrigating method adopted. He thought
that the snakes might be used in hydl aulic
mining. and Il number of them were coupled
together like q garden hose. Tit experiment,
however. was not entirely successful. several OF
the snakes bursting through u~nevenness OF
pressure.