The Essex County Herald

August 22, 1879

“The Sea-Serpent’s Rival.”

A Reptile Thirty Feet Long and Probably Fifty Years Old - A Story Western Newspaper Readers are Asked to Believe.

A recent issue of the Cincinnati Commercial has this tremendous story of a tremendous snake: In 1847 great excitement was created in the northern part of Clermont county by the announcement of old and reliable citizens, supported by their affidavits, that they had seen a snake of enormous size in Hartman’s mill-pond. This pond is three and one-half miles above Williamsburg, on the east fork of the Little Miami river. The excitement gradually spread, and public attention all over the country was attracted to the matter. A “snake-hunt” party was organized at Batavia, of which Col. Howard and Capt. J.A. Penn were the leaders, to capture the monster.

A day was fixed, and at the appointed time an immense crowd, armed with guns, pitchforks, corn-knives, clubs and almost every other conceivable weapon, gathered from all parts of the county at Hartman’s mill. After organizing and distributing the party along the sides of the mill-pond, the leaders ordered an opening to be made in the dam, which was done. The water was drawn off, but no serpent made his appearance. However, a large cavern was discovered under a high projecting ledge of stone, the extent of which they were unable to determine, but it was as large as a hogshead at the mouth, and evidently extended a long distance under the hill. Hartman was unwilling to let the opening of his dam remain unless the snake-hunters would purchase the property, which they declined to do, and as no signs of the snake were discovered, the party toward night disbanded and went home. The opening in the dam was closed, and the water rose again, covering up the mouth of the cavern.

The excitement gradually subsided, being occasionally revived in the following year by reports of the great snake being seen occasionally in that neighborhood. Mr. Hartman was never able afterward to do much with his mill, as the people - even those who professed disbelief in the existence of the snake - would not go to the mill. Land in the neighborhood depreciated. A camp-meeting which had been held near there, and which before was attended yearly by many hundreds, ceased to draw, and died out. The locality seemed to be avoided. Nothing had been seen or heard about the Hartman snake for several years until yesterday.

Col. J.A. Penn was going into one of the northern townships to attend a lawsuit before a squire, and when riding along the road within half a mile of this same mill-pond saw something on the ground, about 100 yards ahead of him, emerging from the field on the northern side of the road. Spurting his horse forward he rode within twenty-five yards of the object, and discovered that it was an immense snake, not less than thirty feet long, and as large around the body as a beer keg. It carried its head about five feet high, and was moving at the rate of ten miles an hour.

The colonel immediately gave the alarm in the neighborhood, and in a short time there were fifty men on foot, in buggies and on horseback in pursuit. The greatest terror prevailed among the women and children. The excitement spread like a prairie fire through the neighboring country. A telegram from Williamsburg to the Batavians put the town in the greatest excitement and confusion. The snake was going a southerly course and was likely to pass near the town, if he did not change his route. Everybody turned out with whatever weapon he could get.

Most of the people started in the direction of Afton, and on reaching there found Col. Penn, whose horse was run down, just mounting a fresh steed. He had come in sight of the snake two or three times and fired at it with his revolver, but without any apparent effect. The snake had passed about a quarter of an hour before, running directly through the yard of Hiram Sweet, and carrying off a two-year-old boy who was sleeping in the yard. Col. Penn, reinforced by the Batavia brigade, among whom were Col. Huhck, Judge Dowdney, Napoleon Bonaparte Ross, Dale Cowen. Postmaster Jameson, started in hot pursuit again.

It was easy to track the monster, as he knocked down the rail fences wherever he crossed them, and his track across the fresh plowed cornfields looked like the trail left by a huge saw-log dragged through them, while the corn was knocked down for several rods on each side of his path. The greatest consternation and havoc were occasioned by him. Teams ran away; the stock on the farms became panic-stricken and rushed pell-mell over fences and through the fields of grain, destroying thousands of dollars’ worth. People were running in every direction, terrified almost to death. Firearms were discharged to frighten the huge reptile. It seemed as if all pandemonium had been suddenly let loose.

On went the pursuers and pursued. The Ohio river hills were soon reached. The course of the snake was through Monroe township and down Big Indian creek. A part of the way through Monroe township he kept right along the public road. Old man Simmons was riding in his buggy with Tom Nichols, when their horse, seeing him approaching, became frightened, upset the buggy, throwing them out into the road, and before they could get up and out of the way he ran by them, striking Nichols on the thigh with his tail as he whirled along, breaking the bone. Col. Penn at this time was but a half a mile behind.

At least 1,000 persons were at this time in pursuit, hallooing, yelling and performing after the manner of Sitting Bull and his warriors. At every point on the drive fresh recruits were added. Down the hills into Indian creek went the snake. In a short time he was in sight of the Ohio river, and close behind was the gallant Col. Penn and his brave men and noisy followers. But they were a little too slow. The snaked dashed into the Ohio and disappeared beneath its dirt and muddy waters. It is believed that his snakeship took a downward course from this point. Capt. Morgan, which boat came up in the evening from Cincinnati, says he saw three miles below the New Richmond what at first he took to be a large log floating in the river, but on coming nearer it disappeared, and he is satisfied now that it was the great snake. William Fitzpatrick and several other citizens of New Richmond were on the boat and confirm this statement.

It is now certain that the Clermont serpent was a reality, and that he has been chased into the Ohio river. A purse has been made up for Hiram Sweet, where fences and crops were badly injured by the monster, and who mourns the loss of his youngest born. The fact is now established that the Clermont “sarpent” was no humbug. We hope that an effort will be made to kill him, as he will no doubt, be often seen in his new element.

It is now rendered pretty certain that the cavern under the bank of the creek discovered at the hunt in 1847 is where this big snake concealed himself. A farmer who owns the land there and has erected a dwelling-house, is now sinking a well, and having reached a bed of limestone, is doing a good deal of blasting with nitro-glycerine. This well is about a fourth of a mile from the mouth of the cavern, and is fifty feet deep. It is believed that the blasting of the rock in the well disturbed his snakeship, and probably frightened him out, owing to the proximity of the well to the cavern, or, perhaps, its actual connection with it.

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