The times., 1898-10-02
SNAKE STORIES.
Yarns That Have Their Origin Out
In Arizona.
0Ifom DC Denver RepnbIican)

fFfom the Denver Republican,
The mining camp of Kingman was re-
Gently invaded by 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 wiggled through the creyices of
the tight board fences and were caught
while endeavoring to enter the houses.
People have taken to sleeping upstairs,
and a bandstand and pavilion are crowded
every night by sleepers, who dare not risk
sleeping on the bare ground. A spell OF
unusually warm weather is thought to be
the cause of the snakes leaving their
rocky fastnesses for cooler abode in the
settlement.
A man at Mesa City has pet ella mon
ster. He let il go about six weeks ago in
order that it might shed its skin, as is its
annual custom. The other day il re-
turned to it's usual haunts, looking thor
oughly reiuvenated. Its owner gave it a
bath. after which it made break for its
feed box, where IL has been in the habit
of eating eggs and other luxuries
TOads grow to an abnormal size in
Southern Arizona, and often exhibit a
preternatural intelligence Recently the arc
lights were started at Mesa City and my
riads of bugs are in consequence attracted
at night by the glare. The tOads have
discovered this new source of supply, and
eat the bugs that fall To the ground as
rapidly as they come within reach. 1t is
supposed that the new diet has created
an unnatural thirst, and in looking around
for a source from which to quench ii they
discovered the troughs that receive the
drippingS from the beer faucets in the
saloons. They now intrude in the saloons
and line up to the troughs and drink until
they are thoroughly intoxicated. many
falling to the floor as though dead while
others unsteadily hop TO the sidewalk and
resume their feasting.
James Thomas. a ranchman. living on
the Verde River. in Yavapai County. has
discovered a scheme that threatens TO
revoiUtionize existing irrigating methods
While walking along the canal bank the
other day. he observed an enormous bull
snake stretched al length, with its head
IL the water and its body pulsating like
steam pump. Observing the reptile still
more closely. he was amazed to see
stream of water flowing from its tail. 1t
was actually pumping water. The bull
snake is a harmless creature, and Mr..
Thomas, seized with an idea, also seized
the snake. How to make il throw
larger stream of water was the question
anu dlltF tOHSlNtFdDlt lnOuSnl ltt lIltt
the experiment of cutting off portion Of
the tail. By this means the snake was
induced to throw a full head Of water at
a minimum exertiOn, and seemed TO enjoy
the job.
Mr.. Thomas captured many other bull
snakes. which, by association with the
original pumper soon became adopts in
the new system of irrigating. Then their
tails were removed. and for days the side
of the ranch next the river was
lined with snakes engaged in throw
ing up streams of water from an
inch to an inch and half
in diameter. A mining man came along
a few days ago and was struck with the
novelty OF the irrigating method adopted.
He thought that the snakes might be
used in hydraulic mining, and a number
of them were coupled together ike ga
den hose. The experiment, however. was
not entirely successful. several of the
snakes bursting through uneyenness of
pressure