Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-28
A SNAKE HUNT.
Tho Novel Pastime Enjoyed In
South Carolina.


The low, swampy rice fields OF the Car |
olinas provide an abundance and va
riety Of game for the sportsman, and |
on hot summers day he can bag as
many reptiles as he feels inclined to.
A party OF rice planters organ
lied hunt at Inglcsides, n
deserted South Carolina planta-
ton which had once been tho
pride Of a southern family, but the war
had eNterminatcd the male members
Al any rate the place has been turned
over to the negroes and Is in the last
stages Of dilapidation.
! Greatland was reached and n short
ride beneath an avenue OF live oaks
brought the party To what had once
been n great, fine country house.
'"Shall we have to go far2" asked the
stranger.
"No!" exclaimed some one to the
right, rs he made spring ut something
in the dried grass,
4 At first he could not make out what
IL was, but suddenly long yellow
snake, with great black links on its
back glided between his legs.
Catch himl Catch himr' shouted
several voices
Like fash the reptile glided through
the grass with four men In pursuit.
Suddenly some one quickly doubled up
aud then threw himself ON the ground
I've got him." he exclaimed, and for
the next few minutes there was strug-
gle among the dried leaves that was
highly exciting. The snake, which was
about six feet In length and as largo
round us mans wrist, twisted,
wrigglcd and fought, but its captor
knew how to handle the deceptive folds
and in spite Of Misses and fangs strong
hand was slowly passed forward until
mans powerful fingers clutched the
angry reptiles neck close to the spotted
head. Triumphnntly the captor arose
from the ground with the loathsome
body OF the snake wrapped about his
arm.
"Bah" said another, contemptuously,
"a chicken snakci No more fight in
one Of them than there Ia in kitten. 4"
His remark proved true, for, after the
creature was strohcd for few minutes,
II seemed contented, and when placed
on the ground made no c fort to escape,
/ but eagerly dipped its forkcd tongue in
some milk that was brought for another
l purpose.
D Some one suggested that the trophies
Z be hung on the dropping limbs of live
; oak, and a stout leather thong quickly
4 cncircled the end OF the first victims
E tail and secured II 20 the limb, where
= II hung head downward. slowly swing
Y ing back and forth.
10 The path then taken led along bank
i some twelve feet In width Majestic
: magnolias and mammoth aZaleas lined
4 II on either side, and the still water
= was hidden by tangled mass Of cup
2 shaped lotus leaves which hoated on
r It's surface. The road was bad, and as
/ the men stumbled on a prolonged hiss
n brought them 10 a dead halt. And none
"a too soon, for there in the path lay a fine
x specimen OF the deadly copperhcad. II
x Ii now au ornament OF the Charleston
. museum.
IS Stretched across the road. the foul
4 feet Of beautiful, copper-colored scales
l. glistened In the sun. The ugly, fiat
v head drew back; lazily the bulky body
= which was as large around as u mans
Is arm, formed itself into double circle
% II was In fighting position. lts hcat
II was raised foot from the ground
e and the neck became horribly attcn
!. uRted. No one was very anxious thi'
time 20 be the first TO attempt the
capture Of reptile whose bite meant
almost certain death. Slowly sucl
p was thrust forward. The snake archet
It's neck until II was seen above til,
d head, which was suddenly drawn back
c and then, with lightning-liko rapiiity
r II shot forward. The serpent's Jaw
q were widely dis.cnded us II struck tho
5, wood with its fangs A grecnish liqui,
o squirted out upon the ground sevcrn
4 feet ahead. and everybody retired
r few feet with dispatch. A man in from
n trippcd and fell, and before he coul,
Y arise the loath6ome reptile wns prepar
d ing To strike at him. Quickly he ROLLED
n over towards the side Of the bank, an,
& with angry kisses the Infatuated snake
l. followed. The man sprang up, bu
Is his foot slipped In the trcnchcrou
e mud, and, with a splash, he fell into tn,
Il canal. The matted vines bore him up
C however.
N The others soon placed the prong o
IL a stick behind the reptiles head, bu
a. with n sudden twisting OF its body l
:. freed itself again and slipped into tn,
" water. The man tangled In the vine
ID yelled and was badly frightened rs tn,
% triangular head cut through the waite
Is in his direction. His eyes closed and hi
'e pale face sank lower among tho vines
10 Then AN aged college professor VIII