The times., 1901-03-31


Snakes are increasing rapidly in value
a few years ago diamond-backed laf
tiesnake would not have brought cents
from any dealer in reptiles. Today goo"
sized rattlesnake is worth SO at least
TWENTY-FIVE dollars would be paid by
public geological garden or by physician
interested in snake toxins.
Hundreds Of physicians IN the H'ls'
States today make a specially OF sIuu!
inc the nelson's secreted by the four ven
ornous snakes of this country. They COM
,are The effects of these poisons upon the
human system with the effects of the toN-
ms produced by the bacilH Of various
diseases. in this manner they hope to
discover not only an antidote for snake
bite. but an antitoXin for swamp fevers
and dozens Of other ills that flesh is heir
to.
This demand for American snakes has
produced corresponding activity in the
business of snake-hunting. The Smithso-
uian institution at Washington is contin-
uaIlv on the alert for rare specimens. The
Bronx ZOO recently sent a snakc-staIklng
expedition to South Carolina under the
lead of r. /. Ditmars. Mr.. Ditmars viii
soon start South on a second snake-hunt-
ing trip DR. Weir Mitchell, the author
and scientist, IS one of the best known
students of snake toxins. 1t is said that
he sometimes has as manay as LOCO
snakes IN his laboratory.
For various reasons poisonous snakes
are much less common in the country
than they We're at one time. Sull there
are enough to make things interesting in
many localities. In western Texas ranch-
ers' families living in sod huts look un-
,I,f far- rar-sa fT-f - &
only sleep secure under a mosquito net
canopv. The poisonous snakes of the
United States are the RATHER copperhead,
rnoccasin. and coral snake. The hTst
three belong all TO the same family-the
cratalidae-aud their poisons, so lar as
known. are familiar. The coral or Harle-
ol,in snake is found only in the South,
and its venom very much resembles that
Of the deadly East Indian cobra. He Is
brightly banded. small. harmless looking
but very vicious. No certain remedy Is
known for the bite Of any Of these
snakes. Whisky and strychnine given IN
doses large enough often to produce con-
X-llisions are usually most effective. Very
much depends upon the constitution OF
the person bitten, and upon the portion
of the body :hat the snakes fangs strike
In general nine-tenths Of the persons
bitten by these snakes die All TINS goes
TO prove. of course. that snake hunting
is a real sport. inasmuch as the hunted
sometimes gets back at the hunter
A SERPENT CROP N SOUTH CAROLINA.
For persons who enjoy snake stalk
ing" said r. /. Ditmars, of the Bronx
100 Il can recommend certain parts 81
South Carolina above any other section
Of the United States. For example,
four-mile swamp near the little town OF
Rooertsyille in Hampton county is
snakes paradise. There be the snakes Of
the South and the snakes Of the North,
every creeping thing is as the sands Of
the sea for numbers. Portions Of the
swamp are overgrown with huge rushes
and portions with cane brake dovetailing
into pine swamps the trees running up
nfty feet to the first limb and hung thick
with sage green moss. Under foot IS a
bog alternating with Shiny pools and
treacherous morasses.
Snake hunting is as fascinating IS deer
sta king Especially 10 man who finds
some meaning in every band on 4 pit
viper's back. No moose was ever more
ready to take alarm than are these slip
perry QuarTies. and TO land q bag fui OF
valuable snakes is task that calls Tor
adroltness mingled with high quality ~
perseverance.
Night is the very best time for catching
snakes for il Is then that the serpent
tribes uncoil themselves and glide kissing
about the swamp in perfect freedom.
Obviously this sort Of thing is not with
out danger. and after one trial Of IL the
snake hunter usually prefers daNllshI-
In the moonlight haze noatS above the
swamp and il LAYS like sllvery sea.
Within it. the pines are ghosts whose
long boards sweep the pools, diamond
backed rattlers rear their ugly heads,
racers moccasins and strange pink water
snakes glide EOiselessly, and alllgatOrs
keep up their loud. UncanGy believing.
The air IS heavy with the musky odor Of
serpen1s
In daylight the hunter rides in mounted
ON a mule usually and clad in an arfnoT
OF heavy brown duck, high top boots ana
stout flexible gloves. His weapons are
bamboo stick with a running moose OF fine
copper wire at the end. and second cane
furnished with a Wit" net be always
carries a revolver. too. 81 he Is wise.
Across the mule neck is balanced a
short cane stick and from each end OF
the stick bangles 4 g0od-siZed cotton bag.
These bags are for the snakes, and if a
score OF the squirmin2 things are turned
loose i'm each bag before the hunt is over,
Achilles, the mule has one vulnerable
point in his heel but snakes are nearly
always too busy To go nOSlng about a
mules heels The mule sagaciUB~ly picks
his way through he swamp along deer
paths which wind in and out where q
single misstep oftimes would tumble him
and his rider into pool swarmlng with
aligators and twenty-five sorts of water
snakes.
THE REPTILE WILL FIGHT
\ snake stalker Of course only at
tempts TO take the more valuable and
strange specimens of serpents. When he
catches the CLEAN Of the right sort Of a
coat through the rushes, or spies a fine
noccasin dangling from a limb over his
head. he halts and goes into action with
his copper wire moose and bamboo stick.
II he can he slips the moose over his
snakeships neck and draws ii taut Then
ho gets the putting. thrashing, splitting
reptile twixt thumb and forefnger around
the neck and drops him into the cotton
bag lie gives the bag a quick swirl 50
that the fang that darts forth instantly
is embedded in a thick fold Of cloth. In
variabIy in CRISIS Il hunter throws away
copper wires and seizes a snake with his
hands grasping him well toward the
head, so that he cannot twist it around
and thrust his fang into the hands
IT is not uncommon for snake stalker
10 bag dozen moccasins around sim
gle pool. 4 few weeks ego Nj Ditmars
in company with his assistant Mr. Sny-
der, and ii guide. was tTekkiug IN the
swamp near EohcrtSylllc The guide had
only consented 10 lead the party on the
snake hunt ia consideration Of double pay
and enormous potations of free whisky.
Ia the middle afternoon they were pro-
ceedinSly slowly, single file, when Dit
mars loitcred "a moment ia search OF pos
sible catches
TO the others. lie began proddiug the bog
with him bamboo stick and found Il alive
with mocc3sins. Some he captured witt
the wire moose. one cludcd him and slip
HNns. h N..f d