The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-20
A FIGHTING SNAKE.
4 PugnaciOus MOccasin Boldly At
lacks Two Men In "A Boat.
From Forest and Stream.


From Forest and Stream.
Fishing one day in a bayou of the Pearl
river, with one companion we sat in OPP
posite ends of long, light boat, which
tapered equally at both ends, but did not
come to a sharp point Ii had but three
seats-one at each end and a middle seat
When change of position was desired,
we sunk light paddle in the water and
quietly propelled by the boat by strokes
under the water so as to make no splash
ing.
Ny end of the boat had turned toward
the nearest bank, which was distant about
thirty feet and lying asleep on a log at
the waters edge ! noticed a moccasin of
very fair proportions.
Signaling 10 my companion, pointed to
the Snake, that he might hold the boat
steady while l tried a shot at il with
small pocket pistol-a % caliber-that we
always carried on our trips, and in the
use of which constant practice had made
me very expert. The snakes head was
not visible, so l concluded to try shot
at the thickest part of the body, which
showed clear on the highest part of the
log, presenting fair mark that 1 could
hit nine times in ten shots, hoping TO
break his spine. My pistol was a single
shot, which was usually no disadvantage
in shooting at snakes as they always
took to the water if not disabled at the
first shot. Taking a very careful aim at
the fair mark presented by the snakes
body on the log, / fired.
The boat must have moved slightly just
at that moment, for my shot struck one
half inch lower than intended. Instead of
going through the snakes body. 1t went
between it and the log, and must have felt
very much like a hot iron, judging by his
actions.
After a quick culver and full length
squirm, he began to bow his back aud spit
like an angry cat.
This was so very unusual that it amused
us very much. and we sat laughing hearth
ly for a moment or two, expecting every
instant that the snake would take to the
water and disappear.
Suddenly the snake swung around with
its head stretched out in our direction. and
plunged into the water, but did not dfsap-
pear. Threshing through the water like
mad, he made straight for me with an air
OF business that cured my attack of laugh
ter promptly and effectually.
i was paralyzed with fright but could
not believe that the snake was really COM
ing to attack us, and sat looking al his
approach, expecting every moment that
ne would dive or turn aside
But ne did neither Straight on he came
until he was but few feet from me as I
sat in the boat, and then | recovered nv
powers of locomotion and most ingloriouslv
he'd There was no choice of routes, so
straight down the long slender boat 7
dashed toward the end my companion Or
cupled, clearing the middle seat with a
jump that nearly drove the bottom nut
My companion had started up with a
startled cry to Look outP' and had
grasped a heavy paddle lying in the bottom
of the boat, but seeing me bearing down
IN m In rnrfl1 TONI
TO cvarry us both over the end Of the boat
into twenty feet of water, he dropped the
paddle stopped low ana caught me with
an approved football tackle hold Just above
the knees, and together We fell with a
crash against the end seat, my head strk-
ing with such force that I was dazed ana
rendered almost unconscious. SDringioe
to his feet my friend snatched no Inc
paddle and ran TO the end of The boat that
had fed from and found the snake
still in pursuit although the boat had
moved some distance from the impetus
given by the sudden arresing of my
fight. Not until he had received a blow
that almost disabled him did that pugna-
cious serpent retire from the attack He
then swan back to the bank and crawled
out OF the very log which first we had
found him.
When 1 had sufficiently recovered from
the knock on the head, and gathered my
scattered wits, We held a council of war,
and there was a division in the camp.
The man who was not snake-timid was In
favor of going right in and whipping out
the enemy with our heavy paddles: while
the man who was most decidedly snake
timid was in favor of general and imme-
date retreat from this unpleasant. and
TO him, unfortunate location. We finally
compromised by landing the boat at a
point some distance from the enemy ana
the able-bodied contingent went 20 the at
tack alone, while the sick and wounded
stood guard at the boat. The spake refused
to retreat 10 the water, and was killed with
a long pole while still showing fight This
IS no eNaggeration of the attack of the
only moccasin that ever saw carry the
war into Africa"
Jacob Billings, aged 80, was master Of