The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1921-08-25
THE HORN SNAKE.

.vcral weeks ago The Sentinel
.ishcd the report that a horn Cor
., snake had been killed in the
XIV Bottom section of Pickens
NY. The Greenville Piedmont
ed the item and said there was
such thing as horn snake in
country and the hoop snake ex-
in imagination only. The Co
bia State also ridiculed the idea
such snake really existed, as
several others.
ast week The Sentinel rcproduc-
from Logan's History Of Upper
tn Carolina facts that proved the
snake was in this section before
Revolutionary War and was
atty dreaded by the Indians and
V settlers.
We are bringing the proof closer
le this week.
n an effort to learn more Of the
n snake The Sentinel has inter-
we'd several people who have actu-
seen these reptiles and we be-
e the information we have gain
is sufficient to prove to any one
t there is not only such serpent
the horn snake, but that it has
IN known to make a circle Of itself
4 roll like a hoop.
Most everybody has heard of the
rn Cor hoop snake, but few have
tually seen them. The belief that
ere is such snake is so general
d tales Of it SO numerous that
ere is bound to be some foundation
r it. However, in this attempt to
owe that there is horn snake
1c Sentinel is using no hcrcsay
idcncc at all, but all statements
adc can be proven by some of our
ost reputable and honorable citi-
rs.
The snake referred to in the re.
mt news item was killed in Rocky
ottom by Mcssrs. Frank Stewart
harlic and Homer Gravcy. We
I'VE seen one of the Mcssrs. Gray,
and he tells us the snake wa.
'arly nine feet long and2;s large a.
average mans thigh. The snake,
ad was in the wagon track of tn,
ad wheM first seen and was shot
men ,ahot it violently brought its
fif-Uver its back and struck it into
G ground. An examination Of the
AXE proved that two or three inch
of the extreme end Of its tail was
hard, horny substance which taper
to sharp point and in the end
this point was a pin-likc Sting
- IT is supposed that the snake
It's out it's poison with this singer.
(For the past several years many
tile in the Rocky Bottom section
we been found dead and no cause
r death could be found. 1t is now
ought by the people up there that
e large horn snake recently killed
that section was the cause of the
'ath of the cattle. There is no
'oof of this, but it is likely sup.
'sition.)
Mr.. Buddy" Patterson, who killed
70 horn snakes this summer. was
terviewed by Mr.. E. D. Uige)
lastain for The Sentinel. Mr.,
,astain is one Of our best known
,izens and his word cannot for one
oment be doubted in the least. He
ows all parties mentioned in his
terview and vouches for them.
le first one of these snakes that
{. Patterson killed was near Mr..
e Stansell's home on Big Easta-
:. Mrs. Stanscll discovered it and
led to Mr.. Patterson, who was
arby. He came and shot the
AXE. After It's head was shot en-
ely from it's body the snake threw
tail over and struck it's horn into
ground exactly as did the one
ed by Messrs. Stewart and GRAY
The Stansells and Patterson
'er having seen such a snake be-
e, they called in Mr.. Cling Bowen,
Oldest citizen Of the section, who
l. it was horn snake and that he
seen them before. The other
n snake Mr.. Patterson killed this
was at Standing Rock on
line between North and South
oilna. 1t was first seen by
ghter of Mr.. Coleman Aiken. She
ed to her father to come kill it.
came with a hoe, but after see
the snake decided it was too big