The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-08
ToaD A. a TRIE STORY.
AZ Kind of snake. Found in Kissing Con
ycuiior b: sober. JprisEt Man.
ronsG 4. Pa Lette. 70 Philadelphia Times.l


To the southwest OF this town, perhap
five miles or more, there lies range o
hills as yet stranger to the peaceful
I,,ow. Between them some of thu
streams I have described play in tn
changing sunlight, laughing as musical
ly rs children laugh in tie heyday O.
their happy youth. Ny purpose wher
I visited them was to cast a fly where
the overhanging bushes would not pre-
vent and where they would drop the old
fashioned hook beneath the logs where
the trout love to lie. I had been warned
that the stream I meant to follow was OF
the sunny side of the hill, and that
would most likely encounter few rat
tlesnakes and copperheads, to say moth
ing Of the black ssrunners" and "gar
tiers" with which these uninhabiteo
places abound. But I laughed at these
warnings, and with pair OF high-toppeo
boots to guard against serpent fangs
started out on my search for adventure
and trout. Three beauties had found
their way into my basket when my first
experience began. Just across from
where I stood the bushes grew in tangled
confusion close to the streams very
edge, and a rustling noise in these
caused me to remember the warning ]
hal received. At that moment I felt an
energetic tug at my line, however, and
Immediately forgot all else in my desire
to land the fish that knew was there.
In g moment or two this was accom-
phshed, and I had time to think Of the
bushes again. Glancing in that direc-
ton I saw sight that gave me a series
of cold chils, and caused me to wonder
for a moment whether it wouldn't have
been money in my pocket, as ARENAS
Ward says, if I had never been born.
What + saw appeared to be conven-
ton of snakes wrangling over the tenn
perance plank prior to its insertion IN
the State platform. To the left of the
blackberry bushes was clear space OF
sand and pebbles, and that was evident
ly the convention hall. There was not
any regular order OF business apparently.
When snake felt like making a motion
he simply made it, and if there were any
other motions in the way the strongest
one was recognized. There were rattle
snakes, black snakes, striped snakes and
copperheads, and to this day can't help
fancying that there were boa constructors,
too. Whichever way I turned my head
sew them assembling, as though in
answer to roll call, Kissing, wriggling,
rattling and crawling in holes and out,
under each other and over, until the
whole place seemed actually alive with
snakes. And I hadn't had a drink for
months, either. How long they would
have sat there l cannot tell, but an i'm
pulse on my part to get away caused me
to break twig under my foot, and then
there was a partial stampede. Have you
ever seen rattlesnake in the attitude he
assumes when listening or getting ready
to strike at something that has disturbed
his peace? II you haven't, you've got a
sight to witness that Will make your
blood run cold. OF those that did run
at the noise I made one was an enorm-
ous rattler, from four to five feet IN
length. l could not count the rattles on
his tail, but am prepared to swear that
they numbered twenty at least. When
the twig snapped l watched hin, for he
lay where every movement could be
seen. Quick as lightning he raised his
head at least six inches from the ground,
swayed it from side to side, while the
lower portion of his body seemed to ourl
itself unconsciously round and round
within itself without disturbing the head
:lp.il lie lay in striking attitude, his head
gently swaying and his rattles making
the gentle sound which the snake makes
before he is certain the intruder is an
enemy. The big. aa5 head, the thin
neck, the small out glittering eyes and
tho noiseless swaying OF the agile body
OF rattlesnake present the most odious
features of the snake tribe in their mos!
odious form.
didn't stay at that spot long, because
it wasn't comfortable. A fellow doesn't
need to be in a perpetual cold perspira-
ton in order to thoroughly enjoy fish
ing, but somehow he can't help feeling
that way with a score of snakes near
him, although ten-foot stream does
flow between. As l moved down the
stream, the big fellow rattt,,ed and push
ed out his tongue, .5ut he never moved
an inch. The only perceptible motion
was one of the head, which enabled him
to see me better IS moved away, and
this he kept up until passed out OF
sight. There was no regret, l may add,
on either side as We hade each other
farewell.
Old woedsmen tell me that there is
nothing unusual in such an assembllase
of snakes. Although they aro at per-
petual war with man, they somehow
manage to live ca terms of general good
snakesLip themselves. It is alleged that
sympathetic copperhead will carry
healing herbs to wounded rattler, al
though these species sometimes meet IN
tho fercest and most deadly combat; but
proof Of this is not in the writer's mem
0ry. ! 10 know, however, that on fish
ing and hunting excursions l have re-
peatedly encountered two, three and
even four different kinds of snakes within.
as many rods OF each other. Whether
they were unconscious ct she company
they were in ! cannot tell. Frequently,
wkea 40 weapon was available, I have
not paused to inquire.