The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-05

Susuuchanna June 4-t'ncle Tommy
Osrood aged I6 recently removed from
Bnghamton TO Hallstead to work on
the Delaware. Lackawanna and West
crn tracks. He rented an old house
Just outside the borough limits and
moved in last Saturday. In the house
is an old fashioned fire place. Tommy
went to the woods near by and car
ried home a quantity of pine knots and
cones. Putting them into the fire
place. he soon had roaring. cracking
fire.
While Tommy's wife was unpacking
a box her attention was attracted by !,
kissing sound from the fire place, and.
looking up she saw a big snake drop
down the chimney and into the flames
in the fire place. She ran shrieking
from the house. Tommy grasped an
ayo handle. and. surmisng that he
would have use for it, stood ready for
action. AS the old house warmed up.
snakes of various kinds. colors and
siHes-gartcr snakes. adders, rattle
snakes, blacksnakcs and milk snakes
slowly unwound and came crawling
out of crcvices and down from the
rafters and up from under the floor,
kissing, wrigsling and squirming.
Some of them showed fight. but Uncle
Tommy placed them hors de combat
For half an hour they continued to
drop into the flames at regular inter-
walls. the frying flesh filling the cabin
with smoke. Occasionally two snakes.
after landing upon the floor would en-
gage in Il fierce fight. while Tommy
was watching the death scenes in the
fire place. In an hour the last snake
in the house had appeared. and the old
man gathered up the dead There
We're seventy-siX, by actual count, and
more than that number met death in
the flames. Tommy measured 80 feet
of snakes. After the battle Mrs. Tom
my returned to the house and all night
dreamed of sea serpents, sharks and
devil fishes.
RAILROAD NOTES.
In a few days the Erie will run a
American train between Susque-
hanna and Buffalo. One locomotive
and train crew will make the entire
run a distance of 80 miles.
The Erie is sending quite number
of locomotives eastward for repairs.
1t would appear from the following
item in the Montrose Republican that
the Montrose eTunkhannock railroad is
rather short on motive power: "Ow-
lip W Il DlcdhuOWH vi llt lotolllbllNH
on the Narrow Guage. no train on the
little road reached Montrose yester-
day, hut the mail was brought in by
team" The passengers evidently
walked in.
y large number Of immigrants are
passing westward over the Erie.
IN LIGHTER VEIN.
"rhr sunset Fingers o'cr YOUR head"
Was what her ardent lover said;
But other nadcns Young and fair
said: "Graciou,. But her hair is red.
There is danger of a peanut trust,
md the circus season is Just opening.
"A duck of a poem is probably
webfooted
1t is the constable who has an at
tachment for his victim.
House cleaning days are oVer.-or
ought TO be- Heaven helped the men.
The women helped themselves.
There is popularity about IA hen.
She isn't dressed until she Is un-
dressed remarks an exchange. The
same peculiarities have been noticed
In some fashionable ladies.
The recent announcements that this
man and that refused to sign with
such and such a base ball club almos,
plunged the country into condition of
suspense bordering upon anarchy.
MATTERS AND THINGS.
Cooperative creameries are spring
ing mp here and there in Susquehanna
county OF course, the farmer doesn't
expect TO get paid for his milk. but he
would like to get enough TO pay the
expense of bringing it to the station.
The foundation for the state hospital
for the insane, about to be erected in
Susouehanna county, is not laid.
President Underwood, of the Erie,
passed east on Sunday in a special car
of the Great Northern railroad.
There is "A rumor that the Erie
shops here are to be equipped with a
travelling crane.
that in May there was l3 sunny days.
three cloudy days and IL rainy davs
1t was "A little moist the remainder of
the time.
ODDS AND ENDS.
Twas So tilc--to be brief
But fat party brought il to grief
For he sat on il fiat.
What he said after that
We'd Iepcat-but We've turned a new leaf
Many man marries "A girl for her
pa value.
4 1O-year-old burglar has been
caught in Binghamton. They get good
and bad early down there.
Montrose is taking no interest in its
centennial celebration project, There
is no postoftice to he dealt out.
Ice is beginning to be popular again.
y few months ago everybody was
down on it,
According to an eminent authority a
goose lives fifty years; provided of
course, he refrains from using kero-
sene can when he builds the kitchen
fire.
THE NEWS GRIST
NJ. II. Van Scotch has been elected
general commander of The Susquehan-
ma County Veteran organization. The
field and staff, to be announced soon,
will hold meeting this month to de-
eide on the place of holding the next
anual encampment
The time is fast approaching when
there will be more telephone poles
than growing trees in Susquehanna
county.
The annual convention of the Jeffer-
son Branch Christian Endeavor Union
will be held in the Lanesboro Method
ist church June q. An interesting pro.