Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-05-08
Some Western Snakes.


the following interesting account OF
some of the snakes that were promi-
nent in the early history of Illinois:
remember we had in Illinois at
that time the black and rsttlesnakes,
the spreading water mocessins, the
copperhesd. the glass, the garter aud
the hoop snakes. The Indians in Nc
Lean county in those days made oil
from rattlesnakes and sold it as cure
for rheumatism and it cured, too,
either that or faith anyhow the pa
tient got well. Often the Indians
would extract the poison sscs from
the snake and cook and eat the reptile.
Another snake common to central
Illinois was the glass snake This
reptile should not be confounded with
the garter variety, though in some re-
spects similar. Both snakes possess
the faculty Of uniting themselves to-
gether, even when injured. The glass
snake looks more like its name than
anything else, although, like a cham
eleon, the color depends upon the
point Of view. 1t rarely exceeds three
feet in length or an inch in diameter
and is entirely harmless. II j. not
jointed, as in the garter, but reunites
itself by reason Of the peculiar sdhe-
siveness Of the mucous eIhaling from
the various parts.
In the early days Of Illinois another
snake, the water moccasin, was, as now,
much in evidence This snake on the
water is one of the most graceful objects
imaginable. 1t is also quite dainty
in its tastes, and especially SO in re.
gard to its menu. This reptile seems
to think it was created for the sole
purpose of destroying the frog popu-
lation, and the frog himself has vague
ideas that the moccasin is not pro-
nounced member Of the worlds peace
society. Consequently it is war to
death between them always, and as the
one is constantly concocting schemes
for destruction, so the other is equally
vigilant in dsvising means to thwart
him. a short time ago ! wa. fishing
in the Kankakee river Near by was
a stone quarry where dynamite was
frequently used for blasting For two
days | had seen, at certain times, q
frog and a moccasin in life and death
struggls. For half an hour each day
the moccasin would try to get the
stick, which the frog had put in his
own mouth to keep from being swal-
lowed, away from that wiry little rep
tile. But this was to no purpose. The
frog would outwit him every tins and
retain possession Of the stick. On the
third day both combatants appeared
on the field ready for the fray, catch
as-cstch-csn, Marquis Of Queensbury
rules to govern. 1t looked as if two
masters at chess were struggling for
supremacy. At times the frog would
be out Of sight, buts moment later
he bobbed up serensly, At one time
the frog was seen to spew something
out Of his mouth into the snakes
mouth. ! watched the unequal con-
test for some time, and then decided
to end it. | picked up crowbar and
crswled as near az possible to the
snake and struck it on the back about
a foot from the head. The effect was
instantaneous, unexpected miraculous.
There Was an explosion and from that
day TO this | have seen nothing ofany
part Of that particular snake. The
frog was unburt. | figured that be
had transferred piece Of the quarry
mems dynamite to the snake and
hence the explosion.
Another snake more plentiful in
central Illinois in those days than now
was the hoopsnake-a long, thin, poi
souous reptils-so called because itS
mode Of attack was to shape itself like
a hoop and 90 sfter>any living thing
that attracted its attention or appealed
to its appetite. 1t is said that it
could not deviste from its course, and
when it struck tree both tree and
snake died. Also that this snake
when in motion takes its tail in its
mouth. But this is a mistake. The
snakes head fits into groove at its
tail, and when it lies there aap on
each side Of the groove covers it. thus
presenting smooth. round surface,
| with the snakes head hidden, the
Who'll. forming complete hoop.