THE CHAMPION SNAKE RUMOUR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1671, 10 December 1887, Page 3

THE CHAMPION SNAKE RUMOUR.

In Central Dakota, on the “Missouri bottoms,” there exists one of nature’s strangest freaks. The settlers term it the “ pump snake.” How came there and where it came from is yet unknown. It first made its appearance in the Emmons county in the bpring of 1886. All full-grown pump snakes measure about sixteen feet in length and about three inches in diameter. They are of gregarious habits, roaming the prairies in large herds, as many as three hundred having been counted in a single flock. In dissecting one of these reptiles there is found a tube which extends from the roof of the jaw to the extremity of the tail and terminating in an opening. This tube is about two inches in diameter and lined with a tough, yielding vab stance similar to rubber. The pump snake is easily trained to answer the call of a man. The inhabitants in this section trap them in large numbers. A. farmer at Oat Tail Greek has a flock of twenty pump-snakes trained to a remarkable degree of proficiency. At the blast of a whistle the snakes assemble on the hanks of the creek. The leader (there is always a leader to a herd ot these snakes, who is elected by a two-third majority) dashes into the water of the creek, leaving only the extremity of its tail on the hank. Another snake immediately grasps the end of the leader’s tail in his jaws, a third takes hold of the second snakes’s tail in a similar manner, and so on, extending to the water troughs in the cattle yards, 300 feet away. The leading snake begins

to swallow or pump the water of the creek, which passes through the long line o£ snakes as it would through a hose, and falls in a heavy stream into the trough. The agriculturist told o£ an extra* ordinary circumstance which occurred a short time ago. While working in a field near his home, he observed flames issuing from the roof o£ his barn. Wild with excitement he hurried to the burning building, only to see that it is was a hopeless task for himself, alone, to attempt to extinguish the flames. In despair he gassed on the work of destruction. Suddenly he heard a loud rustling in the tall grass whence issued his herd of pump snakes on the run. The leader hurled himself into the creek, the rest instantly adjusting themselves, heads and tails, from the creek to the burning building. The last snake standing on its bead, waved its long and flexible body, from the tail of which issued a stream of water that was thrown with terrific force on the burning building. Back and forth dashed the tail end of the living hose, squirting the water where it would do the most good, while the loud pumping of the leader could be heard above the roar of the conflagration. Within fifteen minutes the last spark was out. Then, and not till then, did the pump snakes quit work. They were completely exhausted, the leader having fainted dead away. The main part of the building and effects were saved, thanks to the presence of mind of these wonderful snakes.

The territorial Government is becoming awakened to the extreme usefulness of these interesting creatures, and laws are to bo enacted to protect the pump snake.—Chicago Tribune.