The Washington times., 1894-06-10
Snake and
Animal Stories

Jake wandell, of Mount Hamilton, Is in
San Francisco.
For years he has had one hobby abnormally
developed, and that is that Mount Hamilton
and the vicinity is the home Of family Of
gigantic snakes, says the San Francisco Call
Speaking about damage to the crops, why
lack OF rain amt in 1t alongside Of the pesky
snakes that are around again. I saw the
same reptile t'other day that come mighty
nigh doing me up Inst year and running my
squash crop"
"How was that?'
"Why, you see, l had my squash stacked up
and covered with brush, and bout the middle
OF Winter noticed the brush sagging Hike
and I looked into it, and hanged II nigh
about half OF 'em weren't gone Couldn't
make out what had become OF em. Thought
I'd watch, and that might caught sight OF a
snake about eighteen feet long gliding down
the side Of the mountain like streak Of light
ming.
II could see something bright yellow be-
tween the brown folds of snake shining in the
moonlight. What do you think 1t was? Four
big squash. The snake had its body wrapped
around 'em somehow. aud held 'em so they
could roll, and there he was enjoying to-
boggan slide down hill on 'em. You see he
had good mile dash. When he got to the
squash going.
"I fired at him and scared him of, and
when went down to the foot of the mountain
there were all my squash, little bruised, but
still good. 1 carried EN- up and put the
whole lot under cover"
.'Do you know what happened t'other day?
was just going over to the observatory to
see Professor Holden, and the first thing I
knew met that same gol darned snake right
in the middle OF the road. / didn't have my
gun and the snake knew it, so he just charged
at me. Didn't have time to think hardly.
His mouth was as big as as washbasin and
l could see down his throat.
"Whatd do? l just grabbed a fence rail,
and in the nick of time iamned it down that
snakes throat. Kinder surprised it, you see,
and it wiggied off with its head about four
feet Off the ground and the rail sticking out
like mast.
"But the cuteness of that snake. Just
watched it. Do you know what it did? Why,
hung himself over the limb OF tree and rat
tied his carcass until the rail dropped out
Then he scooted. OH those snakes are flend-
ish.''
ayes, can't deny that the squash crop will
be large this year and fetch good prices,
cause, you see, hay Is so plaguey high, and
but now let me tell you what another snake
just like the other did. You see Professor
Holden was taking an observation one even
ing and that cursed snake just reared itself
up against the side of the big dome and
looked down the scope at him. Jewilikins!
you'' -
But just then there was crash in the di-
rection of the elevator, and In the rush to see
what had caused it Jake and the reporter got
separated.
The elevator man had been listening to
Jake and had fallen in faint on the floor of
the cage.
Maj. Handy he of the lovely whiskers. tells
this story in the Chicago 1nter-Ocean: "Re-
cent disclosures as to the way in which some
New Workers kill bear, said Mr.. J. G. Osgood,
"remind me of Paul Morton's discovery OF
the way to catch them. He was travelling
with party OF good fellows on the Canadian
Pacific railroad. On that road the passengers
are supplied with a most interesting little
book giving the name OF every town through
which they pass, with nice little bits Of inior-
nation as to what may be seen there and for
what the town and surrounding country is
noteworthy.
The Morton party observed after the name
of a station where the train was to stop the
statement, Here bear may be found" Al
irving there they dispatched their meal as
soon as possible aad began to look for bear.
Sure enough there was one on the premises
tied to a stake in the back yard. The adver-
tising man had taken care 70 make good his
word. Some inquiries as to the habits of the
animal elected from the small boy in attend
ance the fact that bears like sugar and would
climb tree TO get it. One of the party put
this statement to the test by placing a caramel
on top of pole, and the boy was vindicated
by the bears climbing to the top. but the
caramel, not so easy to mouth as sugar. stuck
in his teeth. He came down the pole, lay on
the ground, and tried to get it loose with one
OF his forepaws: this failing. he inserted the
eecond paw and then the third and the fourth
until he was helpless on his back with all four
paws in his mouth"
Mr.. Morton now claims priority Of discov-
cry in the fact that the best way to catch a
bear is to feed him on caramels, get all of his
paws in his mouth, and then club him to