The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-27
"sHEP" CATCHES sNAKEs.
He Is n Collie. and Lives in New
Jersey.

Jersey.
From the New York Mail and Express.
Harry Totten of Madison, N. j., owns a
Scotch collie that possesses more inteln-
gence even than the average dog of this
sagaeious breed. and it may also be said
of him that he is as kind and gentle as
a pet sheep.
Mr.. Totten calls his collie "shep." lie
is very valuable helpmate to his owner
in more than one way. for he not only
drives the cows to and from the pasture,
but sees that the bars are properly adj
justed so that the animals cannot wander
from the Enclosure. Harry Totten is farm
superintendent for Henry Hentz, expires
ident of the New York Cotton Exchange,
whose beautiful country place is at Mad
ison. The farm portion of the premises
is located south of the road known as
the Shunpike, so called because years ago
the farmers built the highway to shun
paying toll on the main road. The prop
erty contains over 100 acres and one cor
ner OF 1t Is known as Sand Hin.
Harry Totten resides in one of two
houses on Sand Hill, and he has a large
family OF children. Shep is an especial
IaNorlte with the youngsters ana he
watches over them with all the solcitude
OF 2 guardian. But he has one propensity
quite unusual in dogs of any breed, and II
is that of killing snakes In fact his
greatest pastime is thus gained Those
who know the dog ana have seen him DO
ing sentinel duty at a black snake lair
are of the opinion that he kills snakes
more to prevent the children from being
bitten by them than from any great
LleaSure derived from their destruction.
Shep has been member Of the Totten
household for six years, and he was quite
full-hedged dog when he parted from
his original owner He is black, with white
breast and parkings, and has such an odd
looking face that he appears to be in a
perpetual grin. So well fed Is he that his
robust body is round and plump and shakes
when he walks. Not until about one year
ago was it noticed that the dog had con-
tracted an aversion to snakes. About two
] hundred feet from the house on Sand Hill
is an old filled-up well, that ran dry doz-
en- years ago.
Shep was first seen doing guard duty
among the stones at the top of the well,
and the family wondered what it all meant.
They learned when they saw him drag ont
| black snakes of various sizes and then
dispatch themE His movements We're then
watched more closely and a record was
| kept of the number killed. Last year the
total was fifty-seven. So far this spring
but seven have been killed. Some of the
snakes measured five feet and We're as
thick as the traditional mans wrist. Will
lam Derrig, who occupies the second house
| on Sand Hill, and is also in the employ of
Mr.. Hentz, measured three snakes that
Shep killed in one day during the last week
in April. and their total length was fifteen
leeL. GleNen llGntS. w neneNtT oDep Kills
a snake he makes the fact known by in
cessant barking If no one happens to be
around. Then the children bury the reptiles
on the side of the hill some distance from
the house, in what they call Black Snake
cemetery"
shep is the most faithful guardian of the
black snake rendezvous that one could
wish for. All his daylight hours during the
spring, summer and fall months are spent
at the we'll except when he is driving COWS
or romping with the children or goat that
fHaa.N r.vNtar2
and writer visited Sane Hill. Shep met
them al the house. and after extending a
cordial welcome went back to duty at the
well. A snap shot was taken of him as he
stood, with eyes dilated, awaiting the APP
pearance of a snake, that, unfortunately
did not crawl out
Mr.. Totten and others have watched the
dog manner of catching snakes. Most of
| the catches they say, are made in the
spring and fall. Just before cold weather
| sets in the snakes seek to crawl into the
| old well but Shep illustrates their plans
| by killing all that crawl that way when
| he is on guard. When the warm spring
| days arrive he lies in wait for all that
| come out after their long winter nap, and
When the snake is a few inches out of
| the hole, Shep makes his presence felt.
| The snake opens wide its mouth, and is
| promptly seized by the lower jaw. Then
| the dog falls back upon its launches and
| drags out his victim by main force, a job
| that requires all his strength in most
cases The larger snakes coil themselves
about the dogs body, and then he rolls
upon them until they are dead.
A short distance from the well is the
margin of a large swamp, through which
a stream flows. It is from this swamp
that the black snakes come, and the well
affords an excellent abode for winter So
iourn. Frequently while Shep is on duty
he deserts his post long enough to go down
to the swamp for drink or to cool off. He
has been known to return in time to gain
the scent of a snake that departed during
his absence, when he would follow the
trail, always leading toward the swamp,
and return shortly with the victim in his
mouth.
The old well has a history. over thirty
years ago the late William Gibbons. a
very wealthy southerner, one of whose
daughters was the wife of Ward McAllis-
ter. of Four Hundred fame, and another
the wife of the late Judge Lathrop, once
receiver of the Central railroad of New
Jersey, came to Madison and established
his home. The old mansion, still in its
original shape, is now Drew Theological
Seminary Mr.. Gibbons purchased the prop
erty at Sand Hill, and on its broad, level
platform built a private half-mile race
track that was a sensation in its day. He
built the two houses now occupied by
Harry Totten and William Derrig, the for
mer for his stablemen, the latter for his
trainer. The racing stable was located
close to the old WELL and the water from
that well slaked the thirst of as fine a
string of thoroughbreds as one might see,
among which was the famous mare