Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-07-21
GRANOICOUNIYSNAKE
The General Manager OF One OF
Alma'S Mfg. Institutions Kills II
TEN FEET LONG MORE OR LESS
An Interesting Story Of How II Happened From
The Pen Of One who Knows

This Office is in receipt of the follow
ing account of snake killing which
occurred on one of Gratiot county's
highways near Ithaca. The men en-
gagged in the episode are all we known
citizens of Alma but the author of the
article requests that their names be with
held.
Alma Mich. July 20, 1910.
Dear Mr.. Record:
The other day Bill stopped at the
Office and said Jump into the auto with
me and take a SPIN over TO the farm"
and nothing 10th away we went touch.
ing the high spots, he being of the tribe
Of Jehu and drives furiously. Bowling
along he continued, II must tell you an
experience the first of the week, 1t
came about in this way: you see l have
that big bunch of cattle on the outlying
pasture and knew they were in need of
salt, and so taking Geo. and John and
Lew. for company we were speeding over
the dusty highway along piece of
swampy woodland when one of the boys
cried out Look out for that stick i'll the
road but my natural lenses are high
power and having an imagination like a
tombstone for things in the dust, saw
instantly that it was tlack snake ten
feet long more or less and as big around
as your arm, so turning on more juice
the machine shot ahead and before his
snakeship could effect a clearance we hit
him at the equator glance back wards
showing him trying to go four ways at
once. stopped as quick as possible and
said, now boys that prize is mine by
right of discovery but ever since the re-
port of Eve in the garden got round Ma
balks on having such fellows about
where there are girls in the family, so
Jump out and the one that gets him has
him. Geo. found a stone as big as your
head as first aid TO the injured and John
who professed to know good medicine
for black snakes picked up club and
Lew took handful of salt with which
to sprinkle on his tail but the sn Ike had
no mind to be sprinkled risk and coil
ing up made a lunge, at which Lew,
remembering that Ma wanted a quart
of cream, Just touched the top rail of
the roadside fence and lit out like a
scared cat for the farm house across al
forty acre field. But what sense i'll
being in such a hurry when we know
cream does mt sour in minute except
in thunder storm. He got home that
night but tor some reason had forgotten
the cream. But that snake was just
charming John who was being pushed
forward by Geo. and urged to get better
acquainted with the sable swamp-angel,
but Johns thumb was too near his nose
to be respectful as he said, Now, Geo.
you'er on this reception committee and l
want you to notice the bunch about
three feet abaft the head of that con-
tortionist: know from Woods Natural
History that the toad is an impertinent
bird and feom the looks of that bump
our natural friend has one concealed
about his person and may let him loose
on us without warning; and you better
watch out or get yourself all covered
with warts. Say, Bill, shoot him again
with the machine" At that gave the
cylinder hghball and let her drive ut
a joy.ride clip and when within ten
feet of the frantic ophidian he sat up
and took notice and the next instant
was spinling in graceful curves around
the rear wheel while John fell on Geo's
neck and kissed him, and then tainted
and was dragged by his fellow gladiator
TO the roadside ditch and left to revive
in three inches of June rain. BY actual
measurement the reptile proved to be
only six feet long but the way he struck
at the rubber tire the last time hit him
was fearsome sight; at least Geo says
so and though his mouth is no prayer.
book he ought to know something about
the use of teething rings. We left the
snake where Lew could find him if he
wanted to and salted the cattle accord
ing to program. What's that? Think
this needs to be taken with little salt?
Well, anyway. we killed a six foot snake
as big as your wrist and--.steady now,
there he lies: don't" And for a fact
had to admit the main contention, and
this being dry county. the usual re.
mark is barred.
LOCAL OPrIONIsT.