Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-12-08

didn't alarm him by nearer approach, but only excited his curiosity, myself commenced to move slowly backwards from him. Inch by inch, as l backed off. the distance between me and the copperhead grew greater and greater, so that to my great joy he stayed just as he was. Passing behind my friend, inc hat waver, l made detour through the woods. and came in again on the old road at the other side of the snake, so that I was hidden from his view bv the moss-cogered stone, which orchad over the mouth of the hole where he lay During the time when the snake couldn't see me, my progress was as rapid as possible; but when pot within a couple of yards of the stone I stopped. Looking at the hat waver, I asked: 'Is he still in posi-. tion?" He's just as he was," said he.
 Here goes" said to myself; and down bobbed the stick across his neck close behind the head, pinning him to the ground. He opened his jaws to bite it in vain. and sent the greenish venom squirting from his fangs. With my right hand and one knee 1 kept the stick in position. With my left hand tore away the stone which arehed oye, the hole. and then took him by theneck. and by slowly pulling drew him by degrees from the burrow I was indeed almost as much surprised as he was at the successful outcome of my attempt
 One of the most difficult snakes to catch is the common water-snake of this country.
 Between the bays of Newark and New York, there runs southwards from Jersey City a long narrow peninsula which is separated from Staten Island by the Kill von Kull. On this penin. sula the towns of Greenville and Bayonne are built. To the west of Greenville, facing Newark bay, isa considerable stretch of unoccupied land for the most part sandy and bush covered. Here is a great hunting ! ground for snakes. Garter snakes fairly swarm, adders are numerous and in the ponds and swamps water snakes are to be found in plenty. Thers M is one pond lying near the Morris canal particularly well stocked with water E snakes. On one side is a long flat oi bare sand which is elevated five or six feet above water level, and on the edgs of this sand-hat the water snakes eoms out to sun themselves. M
 Whenever I went there to catch then they always escaped into the pond whither I dared not follow them, for the mud at it's bottom would complete ly engulf me. But after going ther in vain on many occasions. at lasi found way to outwit them. In theH # cinity were some boys. I told thema my plan, and they offered to helpms ''Yery we'll" said I, ''go around by tIs south side of the pond, and sit downa M the bank between it and the cana From there you can watch the pondaH tell me when and where the water snakes come out.'
 myself went over on the sand.hsi which, as I have said, was some is higher than the pond, and close to ta edge sloped abruptly down to the wata From the middle of the sand-fat b gan creeping toward the pond on H hands and knees. carrying my sna stick along with me. When got wig in 20 yards of the slope lay downh and dragged myself forward on
 stomach. The boys from the ot side shouted directions to me in reg to the spot where the snakes were a ming. At last, getting near the br
 took off my hat and cautiously peszs over. Instantly there was scurr for the water. Stick in hand junz to my feet and rushed down, nsf tumbling into the water with the petus. But I was there nearly as as the snakes. Shooting my 2 x among them in the water. and jerE it's crooked end suddenly out agsl managed to fling one, good-sized
 low, high and dry inland upon the s In double quick time I followed
 and managed to catch him on his Fz7=;s4 F-sz4 to the water, for which he was ma
 at a lively rate. With my naked
 l caught him about the middle
 body, so that he turned and bf
 fiercely, making the blood come
 ously from the punctures of his
 teeth.
 held him up that the boys mig
 that had him, whereupon they
 trooping over, making the echos
 with their shouts of glee.
 They then went back again
 same place to watch the pond,
 as before lay down on the sand-fs
 out of view. For nearly an ha
 waited in patience, but never 4
 snake came forth; so we went
 where to hunt for adders. Some
 later we returned to the pond, aDis the same tactics as before, but snake would show himself on the ( Again losing patience with wal i shouted to the boys to keep still I l tried another dodge, whereby N formerly successfully fished for si alligators in the West Indies. u
 Peering gently over the brow ol sand slope. 1 saw above wa' el heads, or rather the noses, of the sl They were very numerous, and ve lay closely together. As slOT flu pn1Yfd dt.a er r,,xzSalf onward &* # he