The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-09
MllIl}s f.5gle
HUNTING SNAKES.

The most exciting pastime in tn,
Iouth is a well organized snake hunt
The low, swampy rice fields of the
Carolinas provide an abundance and
variety of game for the sportsman, an6
on hot summers day he can bag as
many reptiles as he feels inclined to.
A party Of rice planters organized e
recent hunt at Ingleside, desired
South Carolina plantation which had
once been the pride Of southern
family, but the war had eXterminated
its male members. At any rate the
place has been turned over to the
negroes and is in the Last stages of Dir
lapidation.
About 10 o'clock in the morning the
party reached the fields, which are
great sheets of black water acres in
extent, on the surface of which fioated
thousands of white and pink water
lilies, while on the marshy banks count
less blue flags lifted their delicate
leaves. For half an hour the horses
plunged ia the soft mud, which had
once formed bank as hard as cement.
Here and there might be seen little
ripples, as the small black head of a
moccasin or turtle giided away. A moe
casin IN the water never submerges its
head stranger in the party was told
not to mind them, as they could not
strike while swimming, and as long as
they were in the water were perfectly
harmless. Nevertheless, when one of
the hideous reptiles swan towards that
strangers legs, which dangled in the
water, he quickly 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 his
horses neck and lay foundering in
three feet of cold, black water. Every
time he tried to rise he felt that mocca-
sin tangled in his legs and down he
went again on all tours, To add to the
unpleasantness his companions rode
away and his horse followed. He dashed
his hosts, who laughed and declared
that what he took for snake was only
a drifting piece of root.
Stretched across the road, the four
feet of beautiful, copper-colored scales
glistened in the sun. The ugly, fat
head drew back; lazily the bulky body,
which was as large around as a mans
arm, formed itself into a double circle.
1t was in fighting position. Its head
was raised foot from the ground,
and the neck became horribly attenu-
ated.
No one was very anxious this time to
be the first to attempt the capture of a
reptile whose bite meant almost certain
death. Slowly stick was thrust for
ward. The snake arched its neck until
1t was seen above the head, which was
suddenly drawn back and then, with
Iightning-like rapidity, it shot forward.
The serpents jaws were widely dis
tended as it struck the wood with its
fangs. A greenish liquid squirted out
upon the ground several feet ahead, and
every body retired few feet with des-
patch. A man in front tripped and fell,
and before he could arise the loathsome
reptile was preparing to strike him.
Quickly he rolled over toward the side
of the bank, and with angry Kisses the
Infatuated snake followed. The man
sprang up, but his foot slipped in the
treacherous mud, and, with splash, he
fell into the canal. The matted vines
bore him up, however.
The others soon placed the prong of
O stick behind the reptiles head, and
with 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 shot 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 Selling
the overhanging bough of young bay
tree, lowered himself until he could /
touch the water, then put out a thin
but muscular hand and seized the snake |
just behind the head not an instant too
soon.
But it was impossible for one man TO .
lift twenty or more pounds of strug-
Cling snake single-handed and in that
position. So the others, shamed into
their duty, assisted the professor, who .
his vise-like grip upon the mar
row neck of the snake, while they
the writhing body and lifted
it from the water. But then new diff |
culties confronted them. The profess
sor held the head firmly, but the whole
weight of his body hung by the other
hand from the limb of the young bay
tree. If he let so his hold of the tree
he would fall into the water, and either
let 60 the snake or drag the others all
In the canal with him The professor
solved the question.
Pull, boys" he shouted, and they
did. Making use of the snake as
rope they swung the professor in to the
bank and then pulled until he was once
more on dry land Not one dared re-
lease his hold for an instant and the
professor found it necessary to hold the
creatures neck with both hands
The matter might have ended dis
had not the man among the
@ater vines extricated himself and
come to the rescue. Quickly fastening
a strong piece OF Irvine about the
snakes neck he secured the other to
stout pole, and going few feet away
used II as he would a fshing-cane,
gently lifting the loathsome length of
shiny folds from their grasp 1t was
quickly lowered to the ground and
dragged to the old oak tree, where,
with more or less difficulty. it was
strung up, head DOWN.. y. World.
Irish Informahon-McTurk TANK
ous to catch the seven o'clock boat
food morning, Mrs. Murphy. Could veg