The Newton Snake Story: Fact or Fiction?

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

“Milked by a Snake?”

Sometimes it is hard to know how much truth is in a story, like this recently discovered oddity from the Newton Daily Republican 27 June 1895 with the headline “Milked by a Snake: A True Snake Story that Should Take the Leather Medal.”

The newspaper editor assured people the story was “vouched for by A.L. Bartlebaugh, who is well enough known throughout the county as a truthful man.”

Newton Daily Republican, 27 June 1895

According to the Newton Daily Republican, J. W. Miller, a Dunkard farmer living north of Walton, was having difficulty with his cows.  For several weeks they had been coming home “in a somewhat excited condition.” Every evening one would have a swollen, inflamed  udder and would give no milk.  The cow had symptoms similar to poisoning and would eventually die.  After the eighth cow died, Miller became desperate to learn the cause.  He decided to “spend a day with the animals to watch developments.”  He witnessed the “strangest sight.”

“The Strangest Sight“

“A monster bull snake, eight feet in length, appeared in the pasture and raising itself to the udder of the cow, grasped the teat with its mouth.  The cow was badly frightened and ran about the pasture in a frenzied manner.  The snake hung on for dear life, fastening its fangs into the teat, and sucking out the milk.  When it had had its fill, it dropped off.”

Miller quickly worked to kill the snake and solved his problem. He did not lose any other cows.

“Truthful Men”

The reporter agreed that the story seemed incredible and that they had never heard of a similar case.  In fact, “the incredulous are scarcely willing to believe it until given the names of those concerned”  – A.L. Bartlebaugh and J.W. Miller – deemed to be truthful men.

Alexander L. Bartlebaugh, a veteran of the Civil War,  was an early settler in Harvey County, establishing his farm in May 1872.  His obituary noted that with his passing “the community loses one of its oldest and most highly respected men” known for his hospitality to travelers and kindness to all.

The Tale Travels

Over the next several months the “Newton Snake Story” appeared in newspapers across Kansas including the Osborne County Farmer, Galena Times, and the Leavenworth Times with no additional comment.  One article from a paper identified as  Inter Ocean – August 16, 1895 included the added comment that “the body of the monster has been preserved in alcohol and will be donated to the museum of the State University at Lawrence.”

Tall Tale or Truth?

Since the last article specifically mentioned a museum at Kansas University, contact was made with Dr. Rafe M. Brown, Curator-in-charge, Herpetology Division,  Natural History Museum, Dyche Hall at KU. He graciously replied noting that the story seems to be part folklore and part mis-identification.

Bull Snake

The story likely involves incorrectly identifying the snake as a  Bull Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) when it likely was a Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum).  Neither snake could actually “milk” cows.  The Milk Snakes got their common name when farmers would blame low milk yields on the snakes. The farmer observed a snake in the area of the herd and assumed the snake  had somehow attached to the  udder and drained it.

Red Milk Snake

Over the years this has given rise to stories and legends about snakes ‘milking’ cows. Dr Brown states;

“There is zero factual basis for these kinds of urban legends; in any case, perhaps the reporter of your 1895 piece observed a Pituophis in the area of a herd, and assumed it must be up to no good?”

Curious to know more about Kansas snakes?

“Got Snakes? “” is a great place to start!

Sources

Original Story

  • Newton Daily Republican, 27 June 1895

Story Retold

  • Osborne County Farmer 4 July 1895.
  • Galena Times, 5 July 1895.
  • Leavenworth Times, 7 September 1895
  • Westmoreland Recorder, 21 November 1895.
  • http://genealogytrails.com/kan/

Obituaries

  • Evening Kansan Republican: 8 April 1907; 29 May 1915.

Additional Research

  • Dr. Rafe Brown, e-mail to Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator, 16 October 2018.
  • https://www.quora.com/Can-a-snake-take-the-milk-directly-from-the-udder-of-a-cow
  • “Udder Snakes” 15 June 2015. Beachcombing’s Bizarre History Blog

Leather medal was slang (1830+) meaning an imaginary reward for laziness, ineptitude.

Source:  Lighter, J.E..Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang: Volume II, H-O. Random House, NY 1997

 

Wayne G Austin of the Fifth Marines

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Wayne Austin was born on July 17, 1897 in Burrton, Ks, to parents, Stephen P. and Mary Austin.  He was one of 12 children.  Throughout his childhood, the family moved around due to his mother’s health, living in Ohio, Kansas and Colorado. By 1909, the Austin family established a home on the east side of Burrton, Ks.

While at Burrton High, Wayne Austin was an excellent athlete.  In the 1914 Burrton Field Day, he took first in the hurdles and the broad jump, second in the 50 and  100 yard dash. Following high school, Wayne lived with his brother, G.C. Austin, in Mullinville, Ks.

The Burrton Graphic on July 26, 1917, reported that  “Wayne Austin departed for St. Louis, Sunday night and has joined the U.S. Marines.” He trained at Port Royal barracks, South Carolina.  Assigned to Co L 5th Marines, he went over seas on February 6, 1918..

Burrton Graphic, 26 July 1917 – clip.

First to be Missing

Austin was reported as missing in action on July 4, 1918.  For the next several months, there seemed to be confusion about Austin’s status.  Was he captured? Was he killed in action? It took months for his family to learn the answer.

Newton Kansan, 4 July 1918

Throughout the summer and fall of 1918, the Austin family held on “the profound hope that he was captured by the enemy, but he has not as yet been located.” A letter from the American Red Cross noted that they understood the“deep anxiety and worry during these days that you must wait for news of your son . . . we are exercising every effort to get the facts.”

Burrton Graphic, 24 October 1918.

“No Eye Witnesses”

On October 24, 1918, the Burrton Graphic published a letter that Mrs. Mary Austin had received in answer to her queries about her son, Wayne.  Her letter was sent July 5, 1918. She received a response in a letter dated September 27, 1918.

R.O. Williams, 1st Sergeant for Capt Quigley wrote the following:

“he was in action with this company on June 6th. The circumstances, as far as I know are as follows: Two platoons were making an advance in Belleau Woods and found the opposition very stiff, . . . the Lieutenant in command . . . found it necessary to send a message to the Company Commander. . . Your son was one of seven runners who bravely attempted to carry back this message . . . It is not known for certain just what happened to Private Austin as there were no eye witnesses.”

Even after the Armistice there seemed to be no answers regarding the fate of Wayne G. Austin.

“Gave Life at Chateau Theirry”

Finally in late January  1919, Austin’s mother received a telegram from George Barnett, Major General Commandant, with the news that “Private Wayne Austin, Marine Corps buried July 2nd and cause of death to be determined.”

Burrton Graphic, 6 February 1919.

In May 1919, a memorial service was held for Austin.

Burrton Graphic, 15 May 1919.

“Killed Outright”

Over a year later, another piece of the puzzle. In an August 6, 1920 article, the Evening Kansan Republican reprinted part of a letter received “some weeks ago” by Austin’s mother, Mrs. Mary Lynn. Written by Austin’s commanding officer, Capt George Brantingham,  who was also injured,  “shot through the wrist . . .[he] laid in No Man’s Land from 5:15 till 1 o’clock in the morning.” Prior to being injured, he had gone to look for his missing runners when they did not return.

“I went myself and found all my runners killed in and around the same spot, there was a kind of a path worn through the wheat and a machine gun sniper got them all.  I do not know where Wayne was shot but was killed outright.”

The commander went on to say that he was wounded three times and my health is pretty bad.  The gas I got on the Argonne drive knocked me out all together.  It has eaten about four holes through my left lung and  . . . bothered me ever since.”

Returned

Wayne G. Austin was the first young man from Harvey County to be killed in action. He died carrying a message during the Battle of Chatteau Thierry and Belleau Woods on June 6, 1918. He was buried in the American cemetery on the Aisneriver, Torcy, France.  In 1921, his body was returned to Kansas in the fall of 1921.

Newton Kansan, 16 September 1921

In 1921, Post No. 2 American Legion was named for him.

Newton Kansan, 14 July 1921.

Sources

  • Burrton Graphic, 26 July 1917, 24 October 1918, 6 February 1919,  15 May 1919, 22 September 1921.
  • Evening Kansan Republican 19 May 1919, 20 August 1920, 14 July 1921, 16 September 1921.
  • Newton Democrat 5 July 1914.
  • Newton Kansan, 4 July 1918.
  • Mullinville News 4 July 1918, 12 August 1920.

“I Thought I’d be Souvenir Enough”

Posted on by hchm-curator

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

On November 11, 1918 the Great War was over. To remember Armistice Day, one hundred years later, this post will let the voices of those involved speak. All were involved in the final push to return Germany to the 1914 battlefields. The German army “could fight no more.”.

Below are excerpts from letters from Harvey County soldiers.  Portions of the letters sent to family were sometimes published in the newspaper. After the Armistice the censorship rules were relaxed and for the first time the soldiers could give details about their location and the battles they fought.   For many these were the first letters received after then end of the war.

Evening Kansan Republican, 27 December 1918, p. 4.

“I Thought I’d be Souvenir Enough”

 Walter Deschner, Co. K 139th Infantry, letter home published in Evening Kansan Republican 27 December 1918.

The armistice being signed kept us out of the fourth drive just sixteen hours, so you can see how glad we were when all the firing stopped at 11 o’clock, 11th day of the 11th month in the year of our Lord 1918.

Well, censorship has been lifted to a certain extend I will write you something about our last and dreadful drive . . . on the Argonne front. We started on September 26 and were relieved October 1. It was six days of what one can call h—.

The first day was not so hot, but after that we had some hard fighting.  It was the second day my school chum was killed.

We slept in the rain and mud and water and night, and was glad for such a place . . . artillery fire all the time . . ..Many a time shells hit so close to practically cover me with dirt.

When on the fifth day we saw the relief  coming over the hill, it was a grand and glorious feeling . . . we had not washed or shaved or had our shoes off for six days and nights, and dug many a hole for protection against the machine gun fire.

I got some gas . . . but soon got over it.  It affects ones eyes and lungs mostly.  I did not get any German souvenirs, for I did not have time; I thought I’d be souvenir enough.

Note: Deschner does not list the name of the chum, but it is likely that he is referring to  Loren Finnell. In a letter published on October 21, Deschner wrote”Arthur Whitesell and Loren Finnell were both killed with 15 yards of him.” 

“Now . . I will tell what I’ve done”

Fred W. Wolters, with Co. K. 139th Inf  noted in a letter dated November 21, 1918.

“Censorship rules have always been so strict that about all we could say was that we were well and still in the game.  Now . . I will tell what I’ve done. . .

We were at “Verdun in a section of the Argonne forest.  On September 25, we went up to the lines ready to go ‘over the top’ to take a hill that the Germans had held for four years. . . . On the third day we took the hill. . . .

The Germans were not expecting us to come up on top of the hill. We had been going for several days and nights and were all in, but we were not ready to give up.  In taking this hill we felt like new men and kept on going for two more days.  On the fifth day were were simply all in.  No sleep, rain most of the time and only very little food or water, and plenty of gas, shells and machine gun bullets.

On the 2nd of October we were back out of the lines and the sight of men was terrible.  Their clothes were nearly all torn off of them; they had a week’s growth of beard on the their faces and were mud from head to foot.  Out of 197 of our company that went up there were 83 wounded, about 19 killed and about 40 missing. 

The only boys from Newton killed were Lauren Finnell and Arthur Whitesell . . . both in the same class in high school that I was.”

“I will never bid her au revoir again.”

Harley N. Timmons wrote a letter to his mother and stepfather, Mr. & Mrs. DeWalt on November 24, 1918.

“Believe me when I clamp eyes on that Statue of Liberty this time I will never bid her au revoir again.”

Frank P. Timmons, Harley’s brother,  also involved in the last battle, reported that Harley had been wounded “the first day of our five days’ the battle in the Argonne. . . . I don’t know just how he is getting along . . . he was not wounded seriously.”

“Due to Luck, or God, I don’t Know Just Which”

Ben F. Ficken,  Co. B. 110 Eng US Base Hospital No 1, wrote to his father in Burrton on November 24, 1918 describing the last battle. He reported arriving at the front  and resting until . . .

“I woke up under the most terrific barrage that I have ever heard. It was the American guns sending their message to Fritz, and the roar was so intense that it seemed that the whole world ought to rock to and fro. . . . screaming their death songs over our heads  . . .it seemed that a thousand giants with gigantic whips in their hands were lashing the heavens with diabolical fury and intensity. . . .

Evening Kansan Republican, 28 December 1918

When the fog lifted and we were spotted by the German artillery.  Oh, Lord! how they did give it to us.  The shells rained around us like hail and how we ever came out of that was simply due to luck, or God, I don’t know just which.

About 10:30 or 11 a.m. I ran into a gas shell that had just exploded and got my frame full of phosgene gas, and I don’t remember much about what happened except that I was pretty sick and in until I got to the hospital  . . .”

“We Saw Our First Horrors of War” 

Leo L. Burgener Co. K 139th US Infantry

“We started at 7 p.m. on Sept 25 arriving at the heavy artillery about 4 a. m. on the 26th. . . .  The 138th Inf went over at 6:35 a.m. and we followed them up.   It was so smoky that you could not see 50 feet in front of you before the sun came up and perfect h—- of noise.  About 8 we crossed what early that morning had been the German trenches . . .  About 4:45 we crossed , or started to cross a big open field and here’s where we saw our first horrors of war . . . “

“The Grave of Your Loved One is No. 34”

Evening Kansan Republican, 26 December 1918.

Not all the letters came from soldiers. John P. Jockinsen, chaplain 613 Trains and Military Police wrote to Mrs. L. Phares, “concerning the death and funeral of  James E. Taylor, who met death while serving with the colors overseas.”  The letter was dated October 12, 1918.

“From somewhere in France . . .  to the Nearest Relatives and Friends of James Taylor . . . as chaplain who had charge of the funeral service of the one whom you love and now mourn, and who saw him shortly before his death, it is possible that a letter from will be of some comfort to you. . . The doctors and nurses did everything in their power to save his life, but the disease that gripped him was too strong . .. We held the little funeral service from the field hospital today. . . .The grave of your loved on is No. 34. It is carefully marked with a cross at the head, on which we have painted his name, rank, organization, date of his death and serial number which is No. 3298374. . .”

James Taylor was one of five Harvey County men that died from complications related to the Influenza overseas.

Below is a link to the sound of the end of WW 1

A recording of when the guns stopped on November 11, 1918 at 11 o’clock.

Sources

  • Evening Kansan Republican: 26 December 1918, 27 December 1918, 28 December 1918.
  • https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-significant-battles-of-the-first-world-war