The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
PIKE COUNTS SNAKE HARVEST.
Some People Call 1t HayinE Time, but They
Overlook the Facts.

overlook the FRCts.
PARKER's GLEN. Pa. July S.-This is the
month and the week Of the annual snake hunt
Of Pike county. Some people call it haying
time. but judging from the results they are
plainly laboring under delusion. On account
of the severe and prolonged drought the hay
crop is distinguished failure this year. For
the same reason the snake crop is an unquali-
fed success.
Pike county farms. with the execution OF
those lying in the narrow valley Of the Della
ware. are wedged in among rocky hills and are
separated by wide wastes OF half-grown forest
and brush lands. Efforts at cultivation have
been confined to n few acres here and there
that lie little lower than the surrounding
hills. and some Of the farms have small streams
OF water running through them. The cult-
waited parts of Pike county do not interfere
very much with the processes OF nature. and
the natural conditions for the propagation Of
snakes in general. and for rattlesnakes In par
tcular. are almost ideal. Tho question whether
or not snakes require drink il still under
discussion. but it is fact that they flock to the
valleys during drought. attracted perhaps by
the greater quantity OF prey to be found near a
running stream.
At haying time the farmers OF Pike county
merely hire couple OF extra hands and set
them at work with scythss. in the old-fash =
ioned way. The mowers begin at one corner
of the field and rock their way around and
around. An occasional snake Is seen. and
almost invariably it drags Itself into the shell
ter OF the long grass. When the field is once
circumvented there seems little inclination on
the part Of the snakes to escape. and theyare
gradually rounded up in the centre Of the field.
Finally nothing remains unmowed except a
small square in the centre Then the fun be-
gins. As this square is reduced the tops OF the
timothy can be seen vibrating with the move;
ments OF snakes. There are snakes OF all
kinds and conditions. from the thin and harm
less garter up to a ratter OF the size OF man 8
a he mowad p IsW o. Of the ed Geher do they
appear to mind one another at this moment OF
common danger. kattlers and eoppserhea d;
around one another promiscuousy
Asthe unmowed part is still more reduced and
ers the rattlers begin to send out their shrill
challenges and prepare for their final stand 1t
time me- is chosen with regard to heat and dryness
A rattlcr's natural home and hghting ground
is among the rocks along the sidehills. and the
either fool or novice. The, men. armed with
poles long enough to deal blow without get
ting in range OF the snakes. have much the ad-
however; tic agility OF the snakes Is such that
minutes mir Of continuous thrashng. When Q man
misses blow the 1.-the bodies are hurled at
yeIIoms, and very often q few drops Of venom
| are left upon it. The pilots are even more
| lively than and nearly as dangerous ns the rat
| tiers and when these are despatched attention
| ia more leisurey directed toward killing on
| the other varieties. 1t IL a Wholesale maSsa-
| ere nothing in the snake line being allowed TO
| escnpe. The skins that will make mark ethble
trophies are separated from the dead snakes
and tanned for sale to some city boarder, VINO
will hang them up in his room and undoubt-
clly lie about them before next Christmas.
| Sometimes a snake will refuse to retreat be-
| fore man with scythc. and then the scythe
| is discarded for n weapon Of longer range.
RATHER seems to know that he is pretty wei
fixed and often objects to being driven IL is
| said by farmhands that q rattlesnake is abso-
| scales rendering protection as effective as
| steel plating. On the other hand blaoksnake
may be sliced M with no more EFFORT than Is
| required to sever the tops OF weeds.
| Bradner Woods. who lives on the Twin Lakes
| road i've miles from this station, had his an
| nuai having bee snake Kill last week. He has
| work ing for him n big German with an unpro-
| nounceable name. The German was moving
| away very quietly one day when he sud,
! beat dsorder"d retreat. He came back to the
| other men. saying things that might have been
| rs own name lntersporscd with pagan oaths
| lie made them understand llnall" that there
| was snake ahead. and tn" biggest snake thai
| ever was. He had nearly stepped on II, ne
| said The others advanced cautiously, anC
| after throwing few loads Of stOneswithou
| provoking any reply vr movement IN return
| they finally made the discovery that II was ONLY
| II last years straw hat Of the wide brmmeC
| variety. Tine way the thing lay IN the gas
| gave il every appearance; both, y color hht
| pose, Of n big yellow RATHER coiled ana ready
for Il strike.