The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-21
SNAKES IN WILKINSON.
They Are So Thick That Waterways
Are Converted Into Footpnths.

From the Macon Telegraph
1t has long been a contention that
snakes cannot or will not or do not bite
while their heads are under the water.
Facts have frequently been adduced to
prove the folly of such a contention but
nevertheless the woods are fun of people
who Will continue to cling to the belief
until water moccasins shall have stung
every bitable place on their bodies
Wilkinson county has her share of peo-
pie who believe in the theory that snakes
can't bite under the water. At least the
Telegraph is so informed and the infor-
nation comes from well known pastor
OF thriving church in this community
The reverend gentleman refuses to allow
ms name TO appear in connection with
a snake story, more because ii would be
an innovation on custom than because of
his lack OF faith in the story. For this
reason the name of the informer is with
held, but the yarn runs thus;
Wilkinson county found that cattle run
ming at large was public nuisance. A
no fence law was enacted to rid the people
or the cattle and all the fences. too. As
a result, the hedges and waste places
have become thickly matted with grass
briars and underbrush. No cattle being
in the woods and uncultivatod fields, to
eat 1t down, the grass has covered the
ground from sight Naturally enough.
snakes have become more plentiful than
ever cattle were. The old roadways across
the ante-bellum plantations are covered
with the growth that furnishes ample
cover for the homes of snakes.
But fishermen must fish; and they are
not to be outdone. A man will take up
his poles, hooks, lines and bait, and
walk several miles to get to the creek, the
edges or which are too much covered
with grass and snakes for man to walk.
he has reached the creek by a well tray
eled public road and plunges in, clothes
and all, walking up TO the point where
he desires to cast his hooks 1t makes
no difference II snakes wrap all around
his neither limbs and weight him to the
bottom of the creek-thats better than
land, provided he can make them keen
their heads under the water And it IS
a small matter if, after he has Waded into
water up TO his shirt collar, a half dozen
snakes crawl intolhis shirt bosom to mes
tie case TO him. That is all right provided
he makes them all swim out before ne
moves back into shallow water.
So standing in water up to his chin
the fisherman sets his hooks pushing
the snakes out of the way TO find a place
for his poles.
Then, gradually coaxing the big old rus
~ moccasins TO crawl down from their
snug positions in his shirt bosom he goes
back down the creek TO drive the FISH
toward his hooks. If a moccasin is stl1h
born and refuses to crawl down the form
Of the fisherman and cling around his an
kles-apparenuy preferring to gnaw a
few Inouthfuls of the fisherman's flesh
the situation becomes perplexing but usu-
ally the fisherman can keep the snakes
under water by STOPPING his body. or else
ne can coax the Shiny reptiles to obey or
ders.
Such are the difficulties in the wav Of
hshing in Wilkinson county; yet the snort
IS enjoyed by Macon people each sum
mer.