Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-09-09
HUNTING SNAKES.


Carolinas provide an abundance and
variety 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 organized
| recent hunt at lnglcsidc, a desired
| South Carolina plantation which had
once been the pride of a southern
| family, but the war had eXtcrmilatcd
| 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 tloated
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 i'll 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 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 werG in the water were perfectly
the hidcous reptiles swan towards that
strangers legs, which danglcd in the
water, he quickly drew them up on his
saddle and struck out vigorously with
the handle of his whip. lie missed the
object of his aim and the first accident
of the day occurred. He fell over his
horses neck and lay floundering 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 fours, To add to the
unplcasantness his companions rode
away and his horse followed. lie dashed
through the water and at last overlook
his hosts, who laughed and declared
that what he took for snake was only
a drifting piece of root,
Stretched across the road, the foul
feet of beautiful, copper-colorcd scales
glistencd in the sun. The ugly, fiat
head drew back; lazily the bulky body
which was as large around as n 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 attcnu'
atcd.
No one was very anxious this time tC
be the first to attempt the capture of q
reptile whose bite meant almost certain
death. Slowly a stick was thrust for
ward. The snake arched its neck unit
1t was seen above the head which was
suddenly drawn back and then, with
!, Iightning-likc rapidity, it shot forward
, The serpcnt's jaws were widely dis
tended as it struck the wood with it'
fangs. A greenish liquid squirtcd ou
upon the ground several feet ahead ano
everybody retired few feet with dcs
patch. A man in front trippcd and fell
and before he could arise the loathsomt
reptile was preparing to strike him
Quickly be rolled over toward the side
, of the bank, and with angry Kisses th'
infuriatcd snake followed. The MAJ
sprang up, but his foot slipped in The
trcachcrous mud, and, with a splash hi
fell into the canal. The matted vino
l bore him up, however.
The others soon placed the prong o!
a stick behind the reptiles head, auC
, with q sudden twisting of its body i
; freed itself again and slipped into tn
+ water. The man tangled in the vine
| yelled and was badly frightened as til,
triangular head shot through the waite
| in his direction. His eyes closed ant
his pale face sank lower among tn,
, vines. Then an aged college professor
who had insisted upon accompanying
S the party, sprang forward, and sei2in!
t the ovcrhanging bough of young ba,
t tree, lowcrey himself until he coul,
touch the wSter, then put out a THU
| but muscular hand and seized the snak
Just behind the head not an instant to
l soon.
] But it was impossible for one man t
t lift twenty or more pounds of strug
Cling snake single-handed and in tha
r position. So the others, shamed int
: their duty, assisted the professor, VIII
retained his visc-like grip upon the nal
e row neck of the snake, while the
: clutchcd the writhing body and lifte
e il from the water. But then new diff
e cultics confronted them. The profcs
+ sor held the head firmly, but the Who'll
n weight of his body hung by the otho
| ho ip,l IF IN ho
tree. If he let go his hold of the tire
he would fall in TO the water, and eithe
+ let go the snake or drag the others a
in the canal with him. The professc
: solved the question.
"Pull, boys" he shouted, and the
did. Making use of the snake as
I rope they swung the professor in to tn
: bank and then pulled until he was ono
; more on dry land Not one dared n
{ lease his hold for an instant, and til
professor found it necessary to hold tn
creatures neck with both hands.
{ The matter might have ended di
{ astrously had not the man among I'll
Il water vines extricatcd himself an
Z come to the rescue. Quickly fastenin
II strong piece of twinc about Il
snakes neck he secured the other to
l. stout pole, and going a few feet ava
&c used it as he would a fshing-can
Is gently lifting the loathsome length
Is shiny folds from their grasp. 1t WI
l. quickly lowered to the ground an
dragged to the old oak tree, wher
t. with more or less difficulty, it wi
is strung up, head DOWN. Y. World.
- Lessons of Biography.
L. Father-My son, do you not kno
q that all the rich men of to-day begG
1" poor?
/ Small Son-Iessir.
, Father-And yet, instead of savir
L your pennies. you spend them.
's Small Son-Yessir Wen | start o.