Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-04
ON HOOP SNAKE MOUNTAIN
THREE WORK HUNTERS HAVE
NOVEL EXPERIENCE.
Story of Non-Union Mechanics Who
Went to Roanoke Under Promise
of Employment.

How We Carried the Banner on Hoop
Snake Mountain is the subject of a re-
port made today to the Employers Asso-
citation by William H. Mckinney a nom
union structural iron worker The report
also deals with the experience of McKenney
and his three companions as Cow punch
ers' and their thrilling ride back to Wash
ington on the pilot of d locomotive.
1t appears from Mckenney's statement
that he came to this city from New York
several months ago in answer to an ad-
Vertisement of the Employers Association
for non union mechanics. He was given
employment by Richardson & Burgess, and
had constructed nearly all the structural
iron work on the Sun building on F street
when one day he was approached by three
pickets of the grievance committee of the
building trades unions. Mckenney says
the pickets persuaded him to give up the
job, with three other iron workers, on the
promise that the quartet would be sent
TO Roanoke. Va, and there given employ
ment for a period of eight months.
After accepting the propos ton of the
pickets. Mckinney says he and his three
companions, also New Workers, We're given
Transportation to Roanoke. where they
were informed 1.-The reception committee"
would meet them at the depot Upon
irving there, the men declare, there was no
committee to receive Them and after they
had hustled about town and located the
president of the Structural Iron Workers
Union of Roanoke, he informed them that
there was no work there for them, the
iron business was very slack
I'VE then found said Mckinney, that
we were up against 1t good and hard. We
were without money Superintendent
Sherry gave US work for two days in order
that We might get food.
Dreary and Dismal.
Then We were compelled to carry the
banner for fifteen nights in dreary and
dismal Hoop Snake mountain We found
that true to It's name, the mountain was in
habited principally by snakes of all va
rieties, including the deadly RATHER The
natives gave US the pleasant information
that the particular brand of reptile after
which the mountain was named, had the
habit of sticking its tail in its mouth
forming living hoop, and then charging
rapidly upon Its enemy, rolling like
child's hoop. Upon reaching its victim the
snake would, according to the natives. re-
lease its tail, straighten out. and strike the
victim, spear or arrow fashion.
with such pleasant tales the fore
going. and narrowing stories of rattle
snakes ringing in our ears" said Nc
Kenney, I'VE would proceed to Hoop Snake
mountain every night of the fifteen we
made it our habitat, and seeking burrow
somewhere, spend the night there under the
big mountain trees and the starlight. On
several occasions we heard the warning of
the rattlesnake during the Silly hours O.
the night, and we would have to quickly
shift our quarters. We didn't encounter
any hoop snakes, but we were in deadly
fear all the time that the reptiles would
roll into our camp and unloosen their heads
for action.
while at Roanoke we punched cattle
several days in order to get food, but We
discovered that the cowboy business was
not in our line We finally decided to make
a break to get back to Washington, and set
out to inspect the freight car facilities. AS
could not find any 'side-door Puilmans,'
Il inI 70 DO la fynto
CINE and make the trip at night. So
engaged berths on a cowcatcher, and one
dark night made the start for Washing
ton, D. G.
our experience on the front end of
locomotive charging over Virginia noun
tains, through forest and dale, uphill and
down, over trestles and bridges was
tainly thrilling.
Change Engines at Lynchburg.
"At Lynchburg We changed engines and
conditions were somewhat better than they
had been, and we heaved a sigh of relief
that might have been heard a mile when
in the gray of morning our train pulled
into Alexandria and caught sight of
the dome of the Capitol in the distance"
Mckinney added that while on Hoop
Snake mountain he proceeded to the tip
top of the big hill and found hotel there.
We had just cents between u.s. and We're
as hungry as hawks. We informed a
colored empIoye Of the hosiery that the
size of our pile was nickel and three
copper pennies.
Laws, man.. said the employee dat
money amt no good hyah. It'll cost yer
two dolahs to git inside de door OBJ dis
hotel"
Mckinney also said he saw more varie-
ties of snakes on his Fifteen days sum
mer vacation in Virginia" than he ever
dreamed there were in existence and he
added, Il have been dreaming about them
ever since"
1T was a fierce experience" he con-
cluded, land now that we are back in
Washington, it will take something stronger
than a siX-ox team to draw us away again
on any such pretext as induced us to go
to Roanoke