Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07
SNAP SHOT OF A SALMON,
Photograph of n RattIesnake
ina Fighting P0ise.

Another Photograph of n RattIesnake
Ina Fighting P0ise.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
While on a tour Of the coast range noun
tains during the past month, Charles Burck-
halter, surveyor of this city, secured some
remarkable photographs.
The first shows large salmon in the act
of making flying jump of a waterfall.
height of about twelve feet, during its pas
sage up the stream. The picture was taken
on Eel river, at point where that stream
is narrow and very rapid. having a. fall Of
more than 800 feet to the mile. At the
waterfall it is extremely strong and turbu-
lent. and, to quote Mr.. Buckhalter. sit is
passage.
THE river fairly swarmed with them"
he said, land at intervals of every thirty
seconds or so they would be seen trying to
leap the waterfall. There was a splash and
whtrr and a streak of gold flashed in the
sun for an instant huge fish rose clear
out of the water in its fight, only to fall
back again into the tumbling stream, for
not more than one in a dozen succeeded in
making the jump successfully. Those that
did succeed. however. gave a very pretty
exhibition, more interesting from the fact
that they were obliged to make half cir
cular leap. owing to a big rock at the base
OF the fall. which gave an outward curve to
the stream and divided the river in two.
I'VE had watched them for more than an
hour. when became imbued with a desire
to photograph one while 1t was in the air.
They were seen only for an instant, and tho
small camera had at my service was un-
suited for my purpose. After many at
tempts was gratified by catching one Just
as 1t reached the top of the fall"
The other pictures obtained by Mr.. Burck-
halter give several views of dangerous
looking rattlesnake in the act of striking.
Mr.. Burckhalter has been trying to secure
such a picture for many years past, and is
highly elated over his success.
THE popular fallacy that the RATHER coils
into a ball just before striking is disproved
by the picture I obtained" be said. while
crossing a high ridge of the Yola-Bolys
We came upon one coiled up In the sun and
undisturbed by our approach. In that at
titude I photographed him, and then while
one of our party shook him up with a stick
1 prepared to take a snap shot at him
while in a fighting attitude. Instead OF
coiling around he doubled up in the form
of a letter and struck at the stick with
lightning rapidity, kissing terrifically at
every blow. Phew! he was mad, and every
time he struck the poison fairly flew. 1t
was just on the instant that his head was
drawn back to strike that got the picture
of him.
He was nonplussed to find that his fu-
rious attack was unavailing, and began a
retreat, very dignified, however. He moved
away from us in the form of a loop. with
both his head and tail toward us, and while
he balanced himself on one half of his
ter toying with him for time We captured
him. and, pryfng open his mouth poured
about tablespoonful of tobacco juice down
his throat. In twenty minutes he became
very sick and rolled over on his back. In
two hours he was dead
Later I managed to catch another. even
larger than the first, and this one brought
home with me-. To put him In fighting con-
dition 1t is only necessary to give him .
little whisky. when he swells with rage and
fights furiously for long time"