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Great praise is also due them for the energy and tact mani~
fested and for contributing so largely to the enjoyment; of the
evening.

Tableful after tableful of these good things (the viands, not
the young ladies) having been remourscfully devoured, the floor
was again cleared, the bows were resined, the instruments tuned,
the orchestra struck up, and dancing was resumed. But now
the program was by the interspersation of a number of games,
glee songs, recitations, Highland fling, and one or two elaborate
addresses, eloquently delivered.

The “wee sma’ hours” having insinuatingly intruded, and
old Morpheus having thrown out salutary hints, the social
assembly began to disperse.

Comfortable, fur-laden sleighs———Canadian sleighs, mind you
—drawn by Canadian steeds, with Canadian bells and harness,
were driven to the door, and as each received its load of exhausted
humanity, it whirled away homeward over the crisp prairie road,
thus bringing to an end the most brilliant and successful New
Year’s party, we unliesitatingly assert, ever held in Manitoba.
One and all endeavoured to contribute to the general enjoyment,
and when the affair broke up each went home satisfied with the
party, with himself, and with winter life in Manitoba~—more
particularly in Rockwood. Looking at Rockwood as it is now,
we see a flourishing but scattered settlement, made Lip of com-
fortable homes, mostly filled with energetic and industrious in-
mates.”

The second report, dated May 24th, 1873, gave an account
of the famous snake hole at Stony Mountain, and also describes
a picnic of young people of Kildonan.

Here is the account:
May 24th, 1873.

“The Natal Day of our Gracious Sovereign was loyally and
patriotically observed in this place.

Early on this beautiful day, a number of more enthusiastic
inhabitants fired volley after volley, and those of a sporting spirit
spent the day in forest and field.

Others, strolled to visit the natural curiosities to be found
here, including the interesting “snake hole” on the mountain.

It may interest some readers to know that there exists in
a single hole on this mountain of limestone, a sort of family
compact composed of snakes.

On the plateau, topping the south-west projection of the
mountain is a sort: of sink hole. This appears as though some
day some fiend from below put in a blast there, and rent a chasm
on the fair face of the earth.

28

If the day is warm and sunny, as you approach to investi-
gate to your horror, you see the insmuating reptiles, wriggling
themselves from the surrounding grassward. to the den. Fiom
all directions they come, creeping With rustling sound, over the
rocks, and disappear below“ As you watch, however, scores of
green heads quietly but defiently protrude. from every‘fissure,
and you realized the fact that your wondering gaze 18 p1 esented
if not the most attractive, one of the most interesting curios1ties
to be found in this Province.

You find the creeping things not in dozens, nor in scores but
in hundreds, crawling in and out and through, till'the hole and
rocks, and everything seem to be one 11v1ng, crawling mass.

But the most pleasing feature of the day was afforded by a
visit to the Mountain of a large and gaily attired company of
picnickers from Kildonan to the number of forty or fifty in some
fifteen carriages.

They brought edibles, viands, and cakes which met their
fate in due course.

The time passed merrily in social games, chats, and strolls
to the places of curiosity and interest including the snake hole,
which was pretty thoroughly explored at a safe distance.

As the sun sank to his rest in the west the shootists started
homeward from the hunting grounds, the Kildonanites bade
adieu to Stony Mountain, nature became wrapt in slumber, and
the 54th anniversary birthday of Victoria was over forever in
Rockwood.”

Mrs. William Ross Black, who was born Catherine Suther-
land in “Women of Red River” says:——

”Another picnic I memember, was at Stony Mountain. Before
we came away, we went and looked down into. the Snake Hole,
as it was called, on one of the Stony Mountain ledges. There
were many great snakes in it, harmless, but horrible to look
down at. For many years afterwards I shuddered whenever I
thought of that place.”

 

This was possibly one of the members of the Kildonan party
mentioned in the letter.

The Snake Hole is gone!

The hole itself was about; sixteen feet by twenty feet and
about ten feet deep with a floor sloping to the south and was
situated about forty feet south of the southern gate of the Mani-
toba Penitentiary.

During the building of the Penitentiary, the snakes, coming
into the hole in September, so annoyed the carpenters, stone-
masons and others employed there, that they went on strike, (the
first recorded strike in Manitoba).

29