Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-09-25

"You are not however, to infer any
thing from it derogatory to my charac-
ter as a sober, truthful man. You may
or may not know that am member
of the Woodmont Hunting and Fish
ing Club. A very successful feature OF
the club is Colonel William Greene
Steritt, who is also a member. Ihe
other day Colonel Steritt and / repaired
to Woodmont to fish for bass. The
water was too muddy in the Potomac
and we turned our attention to the
canal. We caught several bass. but
that was not the snake point was
getting to- While we were indus
triously whipping the canal, we noticed
on the opposite side. where stone
wall was built as part OF the canal
lock, q number of snakes which were
protruding their heads from between
the stones and evidently taking great
interest in our fishing. Ny imagina-
ton may have added to the collection,
but ] should say there were at least
geo snakes, that had left their ordinary
avocation, as it were, to watch Colonel
Steritt and me fish. What interest
they took in our hunt for black bass /
can I see, but they were there steady and
attentive witnesses. All we could see Of
them was their heads, and these stuck
out from the cracks and assures between
the stones so numerously as to make
the wall fairly bristle with them, and
gave the view on the other side from
us a serpentine effect indeed. At last
Steritt concluded to catch one if he
could. and SO inaugurate hy-fishing for
water snakes. He went across to the
opposite side of the canal and dropped
his hook over the face of the wall in
front of this grand stand of snakes.
They seemed very eager to get at the
bait, and half dozen hung themselves
out into the air fully two feet. making
desperate efforts to grab the hook.
They took hold several times, but Col
onel Steritt was never able to fasten
the hook in their mouths They didn't
seem to take hold the right way. l
stood opposite and coached Colonel
Steritt in his snake fishing, and, observ-
ing one fine, fat burgomaster of a
snake, taking an interest in his bait.
l besought him to let the snake have
his own way and fasten himself. I'm
der my directions he allowed the game
to feed himself. In about a minute,
having gotten the hook we'll down his
throat. Colonel Steritt struck Then
ensued great struggle. The water
snake curled his tail around something
in the interior of the earth and COM
PEELED Colonel Steritt to bend his fish
ing rod fairly double before he started
him. He came slowly even then, max
ing 8 great filibuster and contested
every inch. Little by little. however.
he was pulled free from the rocks.
During the progress of the combat be-
tween Colonel Steritt and the water
snake the other snakes looked on in
amazement. not to say horror. They
couldn't understand the game which,
while it was too many for them, never
theless filled them with dismay. At
last the victim was yanked out into
the air, where he thrashed around
Colonel Steritt's tackle and twisted
himself into all sorts of figure Fights.
Brief as the spectacle was. it settled
the question with all the other snakes.
They Withdrew their heads and never
a one of them has been seen since.
Colonel Steritt took club and killed
his prey and essayed to fish for more,
but, bait as he might, and while he
ever SO guilefully, he couldn't get an
other bite. Colonel Steritt now an
nounces himself as the champion snake
fisherman of the Woodmont Club. As
for myself, i haven't done anything but
dream of all sorts Of snakes, from the
deadly cobra to the common snake ever
since"
"When / first came to Washington,
said Senator Vest to writer for the
Times Herald, 81 was entirely I'M
acquainted and didn't even know my
way about the city. About all I did
know in Washington was Joe Black
burn of Kentucky. felt that might
rely ON Blackburn. and the first day /
was there hunted up the Kentucky
Senator and placed myself in his hands
as a sacred trust to find me boarding
house.
Why, certainly said Blackburn,
come right along with me to my
boarding house. It's splendid place
and near at hand. too. Right here on
+ street.
Well, Blackburn and / didn't go
to the boarding mouse right off. In fact
we didn't get around to the caravan
sarie in question until about 10 O'Clock
at night. 1t was dark and l had no
opportunity to study the outward evil
dences of my proposed home. All
knew was that Blackburn lived there,
and that convinced me that it must be
elegant and sumptuous and every
thing else that gentleman and Sen
ator could wish for.
:" Come right in. said Blackburn,
you will feel in week as if you were
in your own home.
"Then. he led me up pair of stairs
and l saw that whatever the boarding
house was, it at least was in store |