Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-21
A SNAKE STORY AND A RULE
llSPRONEp.

u .
A SNAKE STORY AND A RULE
DlSPRovED.
The Chicago Inter Ocean grieves
deeply that in the interest of scien-
tific research the two-headed snake
killed near Tyrone last Monday by
John Mccarthy should not have been
preserved. 1t will be remembered that
upon dispatching the monster, Nc
earthly hung 1t on the fence to dry, in
tending to show 1t to some friends
after the midday meal, but when he
came to the spot on his way from the
house, he discovered that the crows
had carried off the carcass. Discus
sing the snakes speedy finish, and the
greed of the Tyrone crows, the Inter-
Ocean editorial says
Nothing could have been more I'M
fortunate, for this snake was not one
Of the common double-headed variety,
with two heads at one end but, rather,
one of very rare kind, with a head
at each end.
The ordinary double header snake is
not met with as frequently as formerly
in Iowa, although the farmers of Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Nebraska now and
then turn one up during the spring
blowing. They were very numerous
at one time. Iatterly when one is
killed 1t has been customary to draw
On the village or town clerk for suf11-
cient money to pay a taxidermist for
stuf1ng it, when it is presented to the
village or town hall, the Carnegie IL
brary or the principal sample room.
1t goes almost without saying that
the city council of Ottumwa would
have appropriated liberal sum for the
preservation of the two-headed snake
killed by Mr.. Mccarthy, and that when
1t becomes known how he allowed the
almost invaluable remains of the re.
markable creature to slip through his
hands the regret will be universal not
only among the plain people of that
part of Iowa, but among that large ele-
ment of westerners interested in sci
entific research.
But it is to be regretted that the
Inter Ocean, after treating scientific
subject with such logic should err in
its conclusions as to the manner in
which Mr. Mccarthy killed the double
header monster. It's description Of the
death Of the snake is woefully lacking
in the essential details, as may be
seen:
Not the least noteworthy feature OF
this incident is Mr.. McCarthy's state
ment with reference to the manner in
which he was enabled to kill the snake
II appears that it was coming toward
him with what might be termed, fol
convenience sake, its north head fore
most, when it spied the farmer, who
| fortunately, had hoe in his hand at
the time.
Even then it might easily have made
its escape, as it evidently intended tc
do, while directed solely by its north
head. into clump of underbrush hard
! by. But the south head noticing that
there was some trouble forward, raised
itself, took in the situation, became ex
cited, and, acting entirely upon i'm
pulse, started for a hole about five
rods distant in the other direction.
| The result was that both heads were
| pulling different ways at the same
time, the tension being extreme; and il
was then that Farmer Mccarthy came
up and dispatched the monstrosity.
To the careless reader this explain
alton may suffice, but to the seeker aft
er truth its tinadequacy will be easily
apparent. and truly SO. In the main
the Inter Oceans conclusions are
truthfully drawn. The north head o.
the snake. while headed for the under
brush, was the first to see the mar
with the hoe, and the south head, with
what will be agreed was sufficient
cause, became excited, and started fol
hole five rods distant to the south
but at this 3uncture Farmer Mccarthy
did not come forward and dispatch the
snake. The facts are that both the
north and south end of the snake were
successful in reaching their desired
goal and the unusually constructed
monster parted in the middle. The
north end of the snake wiggled intt
the underbrush and the south end into
the hole five rods away. Mr.. McCar
thy was compelled to dispatch two
snakes, where a few minutes before
there was but one, and two snake.
were hung on the fence to dry only tt
be carried off by the crows while Mr.
Mccarthy went to bring some of hi:
/ friends to view his unusual find.
But in its conclusions that the tall
| proves one well established fact ant
disproves another it will be agreed
the Inter Ocean is right:
The lesson to be learned from thi!
story is that two-headed snakes are M
exception to a well established rule