The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1921-09-29
PICKENS EDITOR
TELLS OF SNAKES
Gary Hiott of Sentinel Submits Proof of Re-
cent Story That Horn Snake Exists

Several weeks ago The Sent1nel
published the report that horn Cor
hoop snake had been killed in the
Rocky Bottom section Of Pickens
county. The Greenville Piedmont
copied the item and said there was
no such thing as a horn snake in
this county and the hoop snake ex-
listed in imagination only. The Co.
lumbia State also ridiculed the idea
that such a snake really existed, as
did several others.
Last week The Sentinel reproduced
from Logan's History of Upper South
Carolina" facts that proved the horn
snake was in this section before the
Revolutionary war and was greatly
dreaded by the Indians and early set
tiers.
We are bringing the proof closer
home this week.
In an effort to learn more of the
horn snake The Sentinel has inter-
viewed several people who have actu-
ally seen these reptiles and we be-
lieve the information we have gained
is sufficient to prove to any one that
there is not only such serpent as the
horn snake, but that it has been
known to make a circle of itself and
roll like a hoop.
Z Not Many Seen.
Most everybody has heard of the
horn Cor hoop) snake, but few have
actually seen them. The belief that
there is such a snake is so general
and tales of it so numerous that there
is bound to be some foundation for it..
However, in this attempt to prove
that there is horn snake The Senti-
mel is using no hearsay evidence at
all, but all statements made can be
proven by some of our most reputa BILE
and honorable citizens.
The snake referred to in the re-
cent news item was killed in Rocky
Bottom by Messrs. Frank Stewart,
Charlie and Homer Gravley. We
have seen one of the Messrs. GRAY
ley and he tells us the snake was
nearly nine feet long and as large as
an average mans thigh. The snakes
head was in the wagon track of the
road when first seen and was shot.
When shot it violently brought it's
tail over it's back and struck it into
the ground. An examination of the
snake proved that two or three
inches of the. extreme end of it's tail
was hard, horny substance which
tapered to a sharp point and in the
end of this point was pin-like
''stinger." 1t is supposed that the
snake puts out his poison with this
stinger. .. /.
Find Dead Cattle.
For the past several years many
cattle in the Rocky Bottom section
have been found dead and no cause
for death could be found. 1t is now
thought by the people up there that
the large horn snake recently killed
in that section was the cause of the
death of the cattle There is no proof
of this, but it is likely supposition.
Mr.. Buddy" Patterson, who killed
two horn snakes this summer, was
interviewed by E. D. (Liege) Chastain
for The Sentinel Mr.. Chastain is one
of our best known citizens and his
word can not for one moment be
doubted in the least. He knows all
parties mentioned in his interview
and vouches for them. The first one
of these snakes that Mr.. Patterson
killed was near Mr.. Lee Stansells s
home on Big Estatoe. Mrs. STAN
sell discovered it and called ITO Mr..
Patterson, who was nearby. He came
and shot the snake After it's head
was shot entirely from it's body the
snake threw it's tail over and struck
it's horn into the ground exactly as
did the one killed by Messrs. Stewart
and GravIey. Tie Stansells and Pat
terson never having seen such a
snake before, they called in Mr.. Cling
Bowen, the oldest citizen of the Sec
ton, who said it was horn snake
and that he had seen them before.
The other horn snake Mr.. Patterson
killed this, summer was at Standing
Rock on the line between North and
South Carolina. It was first seen by