Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 24, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1901 — An Invasion of Spreading Vipers. [ARTICLE]

An Invasion of Spreading Vipers.

Right along now must be the annual moving time of that particular species of snake known variously as “spreading viper,” “puff adder,” blow snake” and “hog-nosed snake,” judging by the number that have been seen in town within the last few days. One was killed near the grain elevators, Harvey Robinson slew a monstrous large one on North Van Rensselaer street; Sammy Sprigg, worthy son of his bug, bird, butterfly and bull-frog bagging sire, caught one alive, near Dr. Horton’s residence, and took it to the school bouse, that Mecca of all worming, squirming, wriggling critters, and, late Saturday afternoon, True Woodworth, driver of the sprinkling wagon,' killed one near the east end Of Washington street. None have yet been reported from the Ist ward, and it is supposed they have been kept out of that division of the city, by the saloon keepers. Should a citizen of that ward happen to encounter one he would probably think he had “got ’em again” and swear off; to the obvious injury of the leading business of the ward. These snakes have nearly as many names as Old Nick himself, and mighty near as bad a reputation also. Nine persons out of ten are ready to declare them a “whole lot pizener than rattlesnakes.” Their bite, if they land on you, is supposed to be death on the spot, while to breathe the atmosphere poisoned by their “puffing” is to die with consumption in four months, to a day. As a matter of fact, however no one ever knew of anyone being hurt by one of these snakes. Their bad reputations evidently result from their ugly appearance, and the big bluff they put up when attacked. The Indiana geology and natural history book of 1891 says that: “It is regarded by herpetologists as one of the most harmless 6f our serpents.” And all other reliable authorities take the same view. “Their looks are agin em” however and they will probably continue to bear the reputations of bad snakes from up from the creek as long as there are any of them left.