Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-03-10
A NEW BRAND OF SNAKES.
They Have Horned Tails and Mouths
Like a Catfish.

They Have Horned Tails and mouths
Like Catfish.
one of the best-known snake and
frog hunters around Baltimore is
"Yank" Adams, who lives near Lighl
street bridge. ''Yank' was Il sharp
shooter with Morgan's raiders in the
old days of the war and he can
crease Il squirrel or pierce Il frogs
eye with Il bullet in ii fashion that calls
for commentator. Early one morning
recently "Iank' took his shotgun amt
his dog and sailed forth to the chase.
He crossed the river near the bridg'
and went along near the fish house.
He stopped to light his pipe and as h"
did so his dog stood" something i'll
the reeds "Yank" cooked his gun and
as the smoke curled from his lips hr
sighted along the barrel and pulled the
trigger The dog plunged into the
water and after hunting around Ton
fully five minutes returned to his mas,
ter with II disappointed look ON his
face. He was puzzled. so WAS "lhnk.
and they waited silently. Presently
there was IL rustic among til" reeds
and the dog again stood" As Adams
was about to pull the trigger he paused
in establishment. for within ten feet "i
him were two large hluc-black snakes
and they We're fighting over small
duck that Adams had brought down
nj the first fire. Sparks seemed I" fly
from the reptiles eyes rs they twisted
and turned their SinuouS lengths
around the dead duck and tried I"
gain sole possession of the coveted
meal
Adams had had visions of Il dinner
of wild duck. but when h" SAW thu"
reptiles so bent on securing tn" game
themselves he gave up all hope. Will"
he watched the battle between 1h"
snakes Il flock of rcd-hcad ducks came
whirring mp tn" river. hui before
Adams could get to cover tn" ducks
vrrrrd around and went to the south
over the trees.
This made "Iank angry. and get
ting his cartridges within easy reach
he laid down in Il pile of brush ami
watched the snakes fight
As he waited the sound of NOR"
ducks coming aroused him. and he
prepared for Il shot. He raised and
let 20 his gun when the ducks w"r"
within range. and two dropped. Will"
the others Scurlcd off. "lank WAS
pleased. and he sent his dog after III"
game The ducks were crippled. but
could paddle about. and this excited
the dog. who feared they would 81
away. lie swan out 10 the ducks, and
had gone about half way when he gave
Il howl of pain and dvcd. AdamS'>
attention had been directed To the
snakes. who were nearly exhausted by
their fierce fight. but when he heard
the do. he turned. and. as he says
himself. he got rs pale as death.
hi. Il NIL al I,I+ -
horde of snakes. who were striking al
the animal with their tails. The dogs
huwlS were pitiful He divrd IL mum
Der of times and finally succeeded in
reaching the shore bleeding from II
dozen wounds. In his mouth was Il
snake and when Adams had dispatched
il he w;l> HStoniShcd to find that he
had run across Il new variety of snake.
II had Il mouth as large us IL full
grown catfish. and was about nine
inches long At the end of the tail
WAS II horny formation resembling an
arrow head. and even after the snake :
head had been crushed the tail struck
ut everything within reach. While
Adams was wondering over the Strang'
freak of nature he saw the snakes
which had attacked his dog going NJ,
the river ut Il rapid rate. The ducks
were dead and the snakes had driven
their horn tails into their bodies and
were dragging them off for Il feast!
Adams took care of his dogs wounds
and made tracks for his boat. III"
says in all his cXp"ricnc" he never he
fore saw Il horn-tailrd snake. and he is
sorry he did not preserve the specimen
his dog captured for exhibition pur-
poses.
Adams says that on Il number of oc
caSionS he has noticed the bones OF
small animals. birds and fish along the
shore. and he is convinced that they
were the remains of Il horn-tailcd
snake banquet At any rate. the horn
tailed snake is responsible for ''Iank
Adams not having duck for his din
ner but "Yank' thinks he has been
partially compensated for the loss 10y
the discovery of the new brand OF
snakes. Baltimore World.