The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-16
A SNAKE HUNT.
The Novel Pastirle Enjoyed in
South Carolina

oiinas provide an abundance and va
riety uf game Tor the sportsman, and
ON hot summers day he can bag as
many reptiles a. he feels inclined To.
\ party OF rice planters organ
lied 4 hunt at Inglesides, a
deserted South Carolina planta-
tinn which had once been the
pride Of "a southern family, but the war
had cHterIninated the male members
At any rate the place has been turned
over IL the negroes and Is III the last
stages oi diiapidation.
Grealland was reached and a short
ride beneath an avenue OF live oaks
brought the party to what had once
been = great. fine country house.
shall we have 10 go far?" asked the
stranger.
No exclaimed some one to the
right a. hc made spring AT something
n the dried grass.
ri first he could not make out what
1t was. but suddenly a long yellow
snake, with great black links on its
baci. EIidct between his legs.
Catch him. Catch him shouted
several voices.
Like 4 fash the reptile glided through
the ~raSs with four men in pursuit.
suddenly some one quickly doubled Gp
and then threw himself on the ground.
I've got him" he exclaimed. and for
-t4re next few minutes there was Il Strug
gle among the dried leaves that was
highly exciting The snake. winch was
about six feet in length and as large
round as mans wrist twisted,
vvriEgjrd and fought. but its captor
knew how TO handle tic deceptive folds,
and in spite of Kisses and fangs a strong
hand was slowly passed forward until a
mans powerful fingers clutched the
sugry reptiles neck close To the spotted
head. Triumphantly the captor arose
fronI the ground with the loathsome
body of the snake wrapped about his
arm
BAH said another. contemptuously,
n chicken snake, No more fight in
one IF them than there iS in a kitten.
His remark proved true, for, after the
creature was Strollcd iora few minutes,
Il seemed contented. and when placed
ON the ground made no effort To escape,
bat eagerly dipped its forlIed tongue in
some milk that was brought for another
purpose.
Some one suggested that the trophies
bc hung on the dropping limbs of a live
oak. and a stout leather thong quickly
cncirclcd the end of the first victims
tail and secured II to the limb, where
it hung head downward, slowly swing
ing back aud forth.
The path then taken led along bank
some twelve feet in width. Majestic
magnolias and mammoth azaleas lined
il on either side, and the still water
was hidden 10y Il tangled mass OF cup
shaped lotus leaves which hOated on
1
the men stumbled on prolonged hiss
brought them 10 = dead halt. And none
too soon, Tor there in the path lay 4 fine
specimen Of the deadly copperhead. 1t
IS now an ornament of the Charleston
museum.
Stretched across the road. the four
feet of beautiful, copper-colored scales
rlieteucd in the sun. The ugly, fiat
Head drew back; lazily the bulky body,
which was as large around as a mans
arm, formed itself into double circle.
1t was in lighting position. Its head
was raised a loot from the ground,
and the neck became horribly atten-
uatcd No one was very anxious this
time 10 bc the first To attempt the
capture OF "A reptile whose bite meant
almost certain death. Slowly stick
was thrust forward. The snake arched
its neck until il was seen above the
head. which was suddenly drawn back,
and then. with Iightning-liiSc rapidity,
it shot forward. The Scrpent's jaws
were widely distended as it struck the
wood with its fangs. \ greenish liquid
Sluirtcd out upon the ground several
feet ahead, and every body retired a
fcy feet with dispatch. \ man in front
tripped and fell, and before he could
arise the loathsome reptile was prepar-
ing 10 strike at him. Quickly he rolled
over towards the side OF the bank. and
With a. rrv hiSses the infuriated snake
followed The man sprang up, but
his foot slipped in the treacherous
mud. and. with a splash, he fell into the
canal. The matted vines bore him up,
however.
The others soon placed the prong of
= stick behind the reptiles head, but
with q sudden twisting of its body it
freed itself again and Slipped into the
water. The man tangled in the vines
yelled and was badly frightened as the
triangular head cut through the water
in his direction. His eyes closed and his
pale face sank lower among the vines.
Then an aged college professor who
had insisted upon accompanying the
party Sprang forward, and SeiZing the
overhanging bough of a young bay
tree lowered himself until he could
touch the water, then put ont thin
but muscular hand and seized the snake
Just behind the head not an instant too
soon.
The next captive was a pretty milk
snake. about three feet in length 1t
came wriggling through the grass, and
the professor seized il by the body.
The agile little creature squirmed and
! hissed, but without much difficulty it
was strung up with the others Two
! pretty golden chains ran down each
side of the delicate gray back, which
seemed to change color and brilliancy
with every movement.
The professor and the visitor wan
| dered aimlessly through an old field of
Stubble. and were crossing an old ditch
/ when = rustiing sound in the dry grass
| attracted their attention. a few leaves
moved and a bright, glossy thing gIist-
( cned in the sun. As it moved the pro-
| fessor's eyes bulgcd, and without n
| word he sprang forward through the
/ weeds in the bed of the ditch. Regard
| less of bricr and root he followed a
| beautiful little creature some two feet
! ia length, until at last he seized il in
/ his hand, but it was apparently dead
! 1t was q snake about as large around
! as a mans thumb, with a green and
white spcclllcd skin which was as
J bright and polished s. glass. 1t was
J perfectly round and smooth to the
| touch Us polished stone. The head was
! long and narrow and the eyes closed.
! The body bent sideways but otherwise
! was as rigid as stick OF wood. The
/ professor carefully turned it over TO ex-
! anime the bright, yellow belly.
Its = glass snake" me whispered. in