The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-11
A SNAKE HUNT.
The Novel Pastime Enjoyed In
South Caroline

on hot summers day he can bag as
many reptiles as he feels Inclined To-
A party Of rice planters organ-
lied q hunt Mt inglesidcs, d
deserted South Carolina planta-
tion which had once been the
pride Of a southern family. but the war
had exterminated the male members
At any rats the place has been turned
over to the negroes and is in the last
stages Of diIapidation
Greatland was reached and short
ride beneath an avenue Of live oaks
brought the party To what had once
been u great, fine country house.
shall we have 10 60 far9s asked the
stranger.
Nor exclaimed some sene to the
right, as he made aspiring IL something
in the dried grass
At first he could not make cut what
IL was, but suddenly long yellow
snake, with great black links on its
back glided bctwecn his legs
Catch hint Catch himr shouted
several voices.
Like cash the reptile giitlcd through
the grass with four men il pursuit
Suddenly some one quickly doubled up
aud then threw himself on The ground.
'I've got him, he exclaimed. and for
the next few minutes there was struga
gle among the dried leaves that was
highly exciting The snake, winch was
about six feet in length and as large
round as a mans wrist, twisted,
wrigglcd and fought, but its captor
knew how TO handle the deceptive folds,
and in spite OF Misses and fangs strong
hand was slowly passed forward until a
mans powerful fingers elutched the
angry reptiles neck close to the spotted
head. Triumphantly the captor arose
from the ground with The loathsomc
body of the snake wrapped about his
arm.
Dahl" said another, contenptnously
"a chicken snakel No more fight in
one of them than there is in kitten.
Ills remark proved true, for after the
creature was strolxed fora few minutes,
it seemed contented. and when placed
on the ground made nocffort to escape,
but eagerly dipped its forlSeA 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 a stout leather thong quickly
encircled the end of the first victims
tail and secured it to the limb, where
Il hung head ~downwsEfxis slowly swing
ing back and forth
The path then taken led along bank
some twelve feet in width. Majestic
magnolias and mammoth azaleas lined
It on either side, and tho still water
was hidden by tangled mass of cup
shaped lotus leaves which fioated on
its surface. The road was bad, and as
the men stumbled on a prolonged hiss
brought them to dead halt. And none
too soon, for there IN the path lay a 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
glistened in the sun The ugly, fiat
head drew back; lazily the bulky body,
which was as large around MS 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 atten-
uated. No one was very anxious this
time to be the first to attempt the
capture of reptile whose bite meant
almost certain death. Slowly stick
was thrust forward. The snake arched
It's mock until it was seen above the
head, which was suddenly drawn back,
and then, with Hghtning-Iike rapi3ity,
1t shot forward The serpcnt's jaws
were widely distended as It struck the
wood with its fangs. A greenish liquid
Bquirtcd out upon the ground several
feet ahead, and everybody retired a
few feet with dispatch. A man in front
tripped and fell, and before he could
arise the loathsome reptile was prepar-
ing to strike at him. Quickly he rolled
over towards the side Of the bank, and
with angry Kisses the infuriated snake
followed. The man sprang mp, but
his foot slipped in the treacherous
mud, and, with splash, he fell into the
canal The matted vines bore himN up.
however.
The others soon placed the prong Of
stick behind the reptiles head, but
with sudden twisting Of its body II
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 spEang forward, and seizing the
overhanGing bough of a young bay
tree lowered himself until he could
touch the water, then put out thin
but muscular hand and seized the snake
Just behind the head not an instant too
soon.
The next captive was pretty milk
snake, about three feet in length It
came wriggling through the grass, md
the professor seized it by the body.
The agile little creature squirmed and
Kissed, but without much difficulty it
was strung up with the others Two
pretty golden chains ran down cnch
side Of the delicate gray back, which
seemed to change color and briliiancy
with every movement
The professor and the visitor wan
dercd aimlessly through an old field Of
stubble, and were crossing an old ditch
when rustling sound in the dry grass
attracted their attention. A few leaves
moved and bright, glossy thing glist-
ened in the sun AS 1t moved theypro-
fessor's eyes bulgcd, and without