A HILL FULL OF REPTILES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 85, 9 April 1879, Page 4

A HILL FULL OF REPTILES.

Mr J. H. Beeeon, tbe well known Central Branch contractor gave tbe Patriot a pleasant call (his morning, and from him we learn tie particulars of (be most remarkable snake story we have ever heard. In the extension of tbe Central Branch road from Beioit to Cawker City the line passes through the town of Glen Elder. A short distance from Glen Elder, on the Solomon Kirer ia a steep and rocky bloff, about 55ft. high, a large portion of which had to be blasted away to make room for the road bed. A few days ago, while the excavation was in proceis a blast of nitro-glycerine caps and giant powder tore off an unusual large part of the bloff, and down the declivity there came writhing and rolling a banch of snakes, which Mr Beeson assures me was almost as large M a barrel. They were of different varieties, rattlesnakes predominating, with racera, adders, garters, &c. When first disturbed from their warm bed, tboy were active and dangerous, but coming out into the severe cold they were loon comparatively barmieee, and were killed by the men without much trouble, or covered op in the danp by earth and etotie. But this is a Very *m«U portion of the story. Every day

an.l cveiy blast, eiuce this firet hatch appreree*, has brought a huge bundle of reptiles. Every hour a moving writhinp tump comes rolling down ihe hills, only Jo sfpm-jfe at tbe foot, and what escape tha labourer' pick enJ shovel cr*wl off to {,'et coverer up in tho dump Thousands of them have been unpsrtherl and killed, and every blast brines thousands more," fnr rivalling in number tho famous sneke oVn of Coneordtn Not n single cbpg of snnkc bite has ytt nneurreit, notwithstanding it is many timea ioijioesible to avoij Bt.--ppin<; oti tIK-m. Mr B m'soii 6Dyfi there whs no unusual tnonet is iunoa» them, the great m&jority beioj; bs large round ac a mun'g wriet and about, three or three &ud a half fest lonjr. He also Buys tt-ot farmers for five miles arouod tell him this is iho regular winter cien of these venomous crpntures and that u'uriug the fall jbe suakea in that. CDim.Ty, nr.^ bc-ido.l iv the .tirection of the bluiF', an..l the only way they cim be iur-:e:i from their course hto kill them. It is s-.id to be one cf the most rcmotk-ihle fiijjbis ev^r looked upon, ami huudreds frooi the aurroun'-io^'count.-y visit iho q-mri-s to fl'e th» saakca. — Atchison (Kansas) Pa (riot.