Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-28
ANOTHER SNAKE STORY.
The Monster Seen in the Lakes Near
Mosca Has Been Captured.
(Alamosa independently

The large snake credited to the
lakes near Mosca by V. 5. Wilson. ed
itor of the Crestone Miner. has been
captured by Charles Metchalf who
noticed for the last few days a great
agitation of the waters of the lake.
which he passes daily to make short
cut in his route, but the weather be
ing so bad he did not stop to see what
was the matter until Tuesday night
OF this week, when hearing and see
ing n great splashing of the water, he
turned aside to discover the cause
and saw a sight winch nearly paral-
yzed him. II was great snake beat
ing the waters to foam. He made
what haste his trembling limbs would
permit. and Wednesday morning as
sembled some boys and men and pro-
ceeded TO the place. On reaching
the lake they were excited by the ap-
parance of the snake, apparently in
the neighborhood of II feet long, and
as big around as a barrel, which was
lashing the waters at terrible rate
and vainly trying to dive below the
surface.
Not daring to venture an attack.
they waited until noon, when gath
ering together all the available force
which could be had, they constructed
RATS and pontoons, ON which some OF
the most reckless ventured, and at
tackled the furiously raging reptile
with clubs--for bullets few of him
as though he were hardened steel
they succeeded in bruising his head
"a h.. h,Iv f,f
the snake threw Itself about In con
vulslve movements even after its
neck was severed. A thing which
greatly Mortified the crowd Of specta-
tors was the sound which came from
the bleeding end. which resembled
the "quack-quack" which is made by
ducks Adam Ingleot, with some as
sistance, held the monster until some
one brought a knife, with which they
ripped the snake open and found IL OF
a rare breed of ducks in the cavern
Gus recesses of his viscera. They
were in different stages of devlop-
mnt. some of them being full-fgedg-
ed and plumaged, and from that all
the way down to one which was some
thing more than half way out OF the
shell. There is only one flock OF
ducks of this variety owned In the VI
cinity. IL is evident that the snake
must have swallowed the eggs laid
by some of these ducks near the water
and that they Matched Undue time from
the natural heat, which, in amphib-
lous reptiles living above the coal
measures. Is known to be about llG
~, Hnrk 81
cne1 featherlin.s toddled immediate
ly after their rescue in straight line
Tor the water. the biggest one lead
ing the rest, which came after In SIN
glc hlc The smallest one, kicking
off the remaining shell, brought up
he rear. lending its feeble cry in the
general "quack."
This somewhat singular spectacle
| was witnessed by nearly 200 people,
who could herdly believe the evil
dnoes of their own senses. Being
corroberated by so many. and the
ducks. the body of the serpent. the
lake, the pontoons. the meadow, and
the people Of Mosca, all still remain
ing MS indubtable evidence. 1t was
not thought necessary to have any al
ndavits taken before Squire Fresh
the local magistrate. Indeed. when
the offer was made by some of the
leading citizens. he remarked that IL
was totally unnecessary, as he mad
seen the whole affair himself.
Some question is Just now made as
to the ownership OF the ducks, as
these will be disposed OF TO dime
- ttx rtovtU
al breed OF ducks claims ownership
In this brood because the eggs mus
have come from his fowls.
Metcalf's claim rests on the grount
Of discovery. and that Of the pro
prietor of the lake on the improve
meat Of natural opportunities. as
was his snake that Matched then
The concensus OF opinion is In fave
of the latter.