The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-20
A SNAKE HUNT.
Tho Novoi Pastimo Enjoyed in
South Carolina

riety 81 game for the sportsman, an
on hot summers day he can bag q
many reptiles as he feels inclined Ia.
A party Of rice planters organ
lied hunt at lnglesides. !,
deserted South Cnroiina planta
tiou which had once been III,
pride OF southern family, but the wa
had exterminated the male members
At any rate the place has been turne,
over to the negroes and Is III the las
stages OF dilapidntion
Greatland was reached and shor'
ride beneath an avenue Of 1.-Two oak.
brought the party 70 what had once
been great, fine country house.
shall we have 70 GO far2n asked the
stranger.
Nor exclaimed some one TO the
right, as he made spring at something
In the dried grass
At first he could not make out wha,
It was, but suddenly a long yellow
snake, with greal. black links on III
back glided between his legs
Catch himl Catch himr shouted
several voices.
Like fash the reptile glitlca through
the grass with four men ip pursuit.
Suddenly some one quickly doubled up
and then threw himself on tho ground.
I've got him, Z he exclaimed. and for
the next few minutes there was q strug-
gle among the dried leaves that was
highly exciting, The snake, which was
about six feet In length AMI as large
round MS a mans wrist, twisted
wrigglcd and fought, but its captor
knew how to handle the deceptive folds,
and in spite OF misses and fanps strong
hand was slowly passed forward until d
mans powerful fingers clutchcd the
angry reptiles neck close 70 the spotted
head. Triumphantly the cartor arose
from the ground with the loathsome
body Of the snake wrapped about his
arm.
Bah" said another, contemporary,
"a chicken snakel No more fight In
one Of them than there Is In kitten.
His remark proved true. for, after the
creature was strolSed for few minutes,
II seemed contcnted. and when placed
on the ground made no effort to escape,
but eagerly dipped its forised tongue In
some milk that was brought-ior 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 vietim's
tail and secured II 10 the limb, where
isDtass tls ss.g !sss.ssnssar, sioss - swiDe-
Tho path then taken lcd along . bank
some twelve feet in width. Majestic
magnolias and mammoth azaleas lined
1t on either side, and the still water
was hidden by tangled mass Of cup.
shaped lotus leaves which floated on
It's surface. The road was bad, and as
the men stumbled on q prolonged hiss
brought them to dead halt. And none
too soon, for there in the path lay fine
specimen Of the deadly copperhead. II
Is now an ornament of the Charleston
Stretched across the road. the four
feet Of beautiful, coppcr-colored scales
glistened in the sun. Tho ugly, fiat
head drew back; lazily the bulky body,
which was as large around as MANY
arm. formed itself into double circle.
1t was In fighting position. Its head
was raised q foot from the ground,
and the neck became horribly atten-
uateds 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
its neck until it was seen above the
head, which was suddenly drawn back,
and then, with lightning like rapidity,
It shot forward. The serpent's jaws
were widely distended rs 1t struck the
wood with its fangs A greenish liquid
squirted out upon the ground several
feet ahead, and everybody retired .
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 misses tho Infatuated snake
followed. The man sprang up, but
his foot slipped in the treacherops
mud, and, with splash, he fell into the
canal. The matted vines bora him up.
however.
The others soon placed the prong Of
o stick behind the reptiles head, but
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 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 sprang forward, and seizing the
overhanging bough Of a young bay
tree lowered himself until hc 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 q pretty milk
snake, about three feet in length. II
came wriggling through the grass, and
the professor seized IL by tho body.
The agile little creature squirned and
Kissed, but without much difficulty It
was strung up with the others Two
pretty golden chains ran down each
side Of the delicate gray back, which
seemed to change color and brilliaucy
with every movement
The professor and the visitor wan
dercd aimlessly through an old field Of
stubble, and were crossing an old ditch
when n Fustling sound In the dry grass
attracted their attention. few leaves
moved and bright. glossy thing glist-
ened in the sun. As it moved the pro-
fessor's eyes bulged, and without .
word he sprang forward through the
-. a. T.. az. I'm ~ fI,n I;tok RaUnrd.