The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-08-06
HUNTING
How q Party of Sportsmen Captured
Shiny Copperhead.

How q Party of SpOrtsmen Captured q
Shiny Copperhead.
The most exciting pastime in the
south is q well organized snake hunt.
The low, swampy rice fields of the
Carolinas provide an abundance and
variety of game for the sportsman, and
on a hot summers day he can bag as
many reptiles as he feels inclined to.
A party of rice planters organized a
recent hunt at Ingleside, a desired
South Carolina plantation which had
once been the pride of a southern
family, but the var had exterminated
its male members. At any rate the
place has been turned over to the
negroes and is in the last stages of di-
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 f1oated
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 in the soft mud, which had
once formed a bank as hard as cement
Here and there might be seen little
ripples, as the small black head of a
moccasin or turtle glided away. A moe
casin in the water never submerges its
head. A 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 wan 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 mecca
sin tangled in his legs and down he
went again on all tours, To add to the
un~pleasantness his companions rode
away and his horse followed. He dashed
through the water and at last overlook
his hosts, who laughed and declared
that what he took for a snake was only
a drifting piece of root.
Stretched across the road, the four
feet of beautiful, unprecedented scales
glistened in the sun. The ugly, fiat
head drew back; laZily the bulky body,
which was as large around as u mans
arm, formed itself into a double circle.
1t was in fighting position. Its head
was raised n foot from the ground,
and the neck became horribly attenu,
ated.
No one was very anxious this time tC
be the first to attempt the capture of
reptile whose bite meant almost certain
death. Slowly a stick was thrust for
ward. The snake arohed its neck unit.
IT was seen above the head, which wal
suddenly drawn back and then, with
lightning-like rapidity, it shot forward.
The serpent's jaws were widely dis
tended as it struck the wood with its
fangs. A greenish liquid squirted out
upon the ground several feet ahead, anG
everybody retired a few feet with DIES
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 mar
sprang up, but his foot slipped in the
treacherous mud, and, with a splash, he
fell into the canal. The matted vine,
bore him up, however.
The others 500 placed the prong OF
a stick behind the reptiles head, and
with "a sudden twisting of it's body il
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 anC
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 a Young bay
tree, lowered himself until he coult
touch the water, then put out n thin
but muscular hand and seized the snake
lust behind the hoad not an instant to,
soon.
But it was impossible for n nun I,
lift twenty or more pounds of strug
Cling snake single-handed and in tina
position. SO the others, shamed int
their duty, assisted the professor, whG
retained his vise-like grip upon tho mar
row neck Of the snake, while they
clulcileu INC WrlIilhB pouy anu lliIet
it from the water. But then new diff
culties confronted them. The profes
sor held the head firmly, but the Who'll,
weight of his body hung by the other
hand from the limb of the young ba.
tree. If he let go his hold of the ire,
he would fall into the water, and eitheI
let go the snake or drag the others al
in the canal with him. The professo.
solved the question.
Pull, boysI" he shouted, and the.
did. Making use of the snake as {