The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-15
AN ALLEGED SNAKE HUNT
Using A COPPERHEAD AS A ROPE
TO RESCUE A MAN.

DivideS ltSeu into FOOr-A More or
Lass Veracious Account From a
south Carolina Sportsman-A Snake
With a Spiked Tail Which 1t Puts
Tn Your Nose to Make Sure You
ara Dead-How Kingsnake Tough {
and Killed Rettler.
From the New York World
CHARLESTON, S. C., June 8.-The most
exciting pastime in TIE south is well or
gaDized snake hunt. The low swampy rice
fields Of the Carolinas provide an abundance
aud variety Of game for the sportsman and
On a hot summers day he can bag as many
rentiles as he feels inclined to. ...
A party of rice planters organized hunt
last week at Inglesids, deserted South
Carolina plantation which had once been
tho bride of southern family, but the war
had exterminated its male members. At
any rate tho place has been turned over to
,ba negroes and is 10 the last stager of
dilapidation.
About 10 o'clock in the morning the party
reqched the field, which are great sheets of
HACK water, acres in extent on the surface
NJ which floats thousands of white and
mink water lilies, while on the marshy
hanks countless blue flags lifted their deli
cate leaves. For half an hour the horses
MINCED in the soft mud, which had once
formed a bank as hard as cement.
Here and there might be seen little rip
Mes as the small black head Of a moccasin
or turtle glided away. A moccasin in the
water never submerges its head. A
stranger in the party was told not to mind
them, as they could not strike while swim
ming, and as long as they we're in the water
were perfectly harmless. Nevertheless
when one Of the hideous reptiles
swan toward that strangers legs, which
drew them up on his saddle and struck out
vigorously with the handle of his whip. He
missed the object Of his aim, and the first
accident of the day occurred. He fell over
bis horses neck and lay fioundering In
three feet of cold, black water. Every
time be tried to rise ha felt that moccasin
tangled in his legs, and down he went again
on all fours. To add to the unpleasantness,
his companions rode away and his horse
followed. He dashed through the water,
and at last overlook his hosts, who laughed
aud declared that what he took for a snake
was only a drifting piece of root.
Greatand was reached, and short ride
beneath an avenue Of live oaks brought the
party to what had once been a great, fine
country home.
Here the hunters cut forked sticks about
four feet In length.
Remember" said the leader. I'VE want
to bring in as many live snakes as we can :,
80 cut your sticks carefully"
Snail We have to go far?" asked the
stranger.
Mop exclaimed some one to his right as
he made q spring at something in the dried
grass.
1t first he could not make out what it
was, but suddenly long yellow snake, with
great black Links on its back, glided between
bis legs.
Catch him Catch him!" shouted sew
eral voices.
Like flash the reptile glided through the
grass with four men in pursuit. Suddenly
some one quickly doubled up and then
threw himself on the ground.
i've got him." he exclaimed. and for the
next few minutes there was q struggle
among the dried leaves that was highly ex-
citing. The snake, which was about six
feet in length and as large round as a mans
wrist, twisted, wriggled aud fought, but its
captor knew how to handle the deceptive
folds, and in spite Of Kisses and fangs a
strong hand was slowly passed forward
until mans powerful fingers clutched the
angry reptiles neck to the spotted head.
Trumphantly the captor arose from the
ground with the loathsome body OF the
snake wrapped about his arm.
. Bahv' said another, contemptuously, "a
chicken snake! No more fight in one Of
them b IN there is in kitten" His remark
proved true. for, after the creature was
stroked for few minutes, it seemed con-
tented, and when placed on the ground
made no effort to escape, but eagerly dipped
Its forked tongue in some milk that was
brought for another purpose.
Some one suggested that the trophies be
hung on the dropping limbs of live oak,
and stout leather thong quickly encirced
the end Of the first victims tail and secured
1t to the limb, where it hung head down.
ward, slowly swinging back and forth.
The path then taken led along a bank
some twelve feet in width. Majestic mag
nolas and mammoth azalees lined it on
either side and the still water was hidden by
tangled mass of cup-shaDed lotus leaves
which tioated on its surface. The road was
bad and as the men stumbled along a pro-
Il ionged hiss brought them to dead halt.
A ana none TOO soon, for there in the path lay
line specimen of the deadly copperhead.
n 1t Is now an ornament Of the Charleston
museum.
Stretched across the road, the four feet of
beautiful, copper-colored scales glisLened in
Ine sun. qhe ugly, fiat head drew back;
ANIy the bulky body, which was as large
around as a mans arm, formed itself into a
Gouple circle. 1t was in fighting position.
4 It's head was raised foot from the ground.
ana the neck became horribly attenuated.
NO one was very anxious this time to be the
a Ats0 10 attempt the capture of a reptile
whose bite meant almost certain death.
Sowly stick was thrust forward.
Inc snake arched its neck until it was
tee9 above the head, which was sud
Genly drawn back and then. with
lShtnlng- like rapidity, itshot forward. the
BE- pent's jaws were widely distended az it
SsVruck the wood with its fangs. A greenish
n4uld squlrued out upon the ground several
teet ahead, and everybody retired few
leet with dispatch. A man in front tr1pped
HAu Iell, and before he could arise the loath-
% Sone reptile was preparing to strike at him.
quickly he rolled over toward the side of
oae oank, and with angry Kisses the infuri-
Hleu snake followed. The man sprang up,
uuI MS foot slipped in the treacherous mud +,
a apl with splash, he fell into the canal.
-H I9 matted vines bore him up. however.
4 ne others soon placed the prong of a
s''ek behind the reptiles head, but with
nuaaen twisting of its body it freed itself
asalh and slipped into the water. The man
a. gied IN the vines yelled and was badly
~ sutened as the triangular head cut
am ough the water in his direction. His
s Jes closed and his pale face sank lower
Suoug the vines. Then an aged college
ttoIessor who had insisted upon accom-
4 H! 1nS the party sprang forward, and,
t1ulg the overhanging bough OF a young
10y Tree, lowered himself until be could
L r 0ueu Ihe water, then put out thin but
EattScular hand aud seized the snake just
H e p-t the head not an instant too soon.