New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
RATTLESNAkE LORE.
Hoc the Deadly Snakes Kill Them,
seIres When They Are Cornered.

Bridgeport Conn., June q observation-disclosures
hunting in Connecticut is the most dangerous sport
the State affords. but the members of the Schaghti
coke Rattesnake Club have come to consider
days hunt after the poison fanged reptiles as
amusement. II is a Of familiarity breeding
contempt, probably. but the average person will
require several hunts to breed in him any great
contempt for the venomous habitantS Of the rocky
ledges of the Schaghticokes.
The Schaghticoke Rattlesnake Club is the only
one of its kind in Connecticut. The headquarters
of the club in the town of Kent, where the
hunting ground is also located. The members OF
the club holding office George Coggswell, presi
dent: DR. John Monroe, vice-president: Charles
Lee, secretary, and William Coggswe. "saswaw
keeper The following account CT a recent hunt is
given by a guest of the club
Starting from South Kent. the home of Dr.
Monroe, drive of four miles Bulls Bridge and
thence up the east shore of the Housatonic River
for another two miles brought the home OF
the secretary of the club. All along the road there
greetings from the neighbors, of Going rattle
snake hunting, l see
Yes answered Dr. Monroe.
There were two forked sticks, about eight feet
long. sticking from under the seat of the buck
board. and these told the mission of the party
forked sticks are the implements of war in hunt
Of this kind. Every member Of the Rattlesnake
Club has his rattlesnake forks, which ne keeps
carefully he does his shotgun. The sticks are
made Of strong but lightweight wood, such ash.
'talf a mile below Lees Monroe stopped his
black mare shaded his eyes with his hand and
looked across the river toward little house almost
completely hidden from view by trees and shrub
| berry Suddenly he gave yell, and from a bench
under tree tail figure appeared 1t was George
Coggswell. the veteran rattlesnake hunter of the
Schaghticoke Mountains He is one of the few re-
manning Indians of the Schaghtcoke tribe now Hv-
ing on the Schaghticoke Indian Reservation. 'Cogg
! the members of the club call him
Bring your canoe over called Monroe
'Whoop-ee. will came the answer from across
! the river
Lee changed his slippers for pair of high
topped rattlesnake shoes and took his rattlesnake
fork from its hook in the woodshed. The quartet
stepped in the canoe and in ten minutes more were
dlvestng themselves of all superiuous clothing
/ Tor the day was scorcher. There were half
dozen on the hunt, two hunters having come up
/ from the southern end of the reservation, with
thelr rattesnake forks over their shoulders. Along
| the dusty road Cogg' led the way. Walk Injun
style. he said; the trail amt wide enough walk
side by side
For half a mile the walk continued along under
the brow of the Schaghticokes. The sun broiled
down in the little valley hot August
day. 1t great day for rattlers. the hunt
ers wise in the knowledge of this brand of reptiles
declared
But they'll begin to spread pretty soon,' OBJ
served Cogg for it's growing hot, and they go
away by themselves after a spell of hot weather
From the main trail the party of snake hunters
turned into bush grown path which was used
quarter of century ago by teams draw char
This leads up to the snake den, said Monroe.
It's mighty hard climb. and we'll have to go
SLOW. added 'Cogg.
Up the trail, that slippery with the leaves
Of last autumn's fall. for half a mile the hunters
trudged the perspiration pouring down faces in
| little rivulets. Five halts made going that
half mile and some members Of the party breathed
| as if they had the asthma
Listen" commanded 'Cogg' as he held UP his
/ hand Every one stopped. and the only sound from
/ the hunters was the heavy painting of the lungs.
There's one out there the left about a rod,
added Cogg; and he's good sized one. too judg-
/ in from the whir of his rattle
! This is the den right here above us explained
'Cogg,' and it's all in about half If you
| happen to step rattler stand still. don't
! but look out for him If he gets loose RATHER is
he's a good deal like lightnin. too. for he don't
4 strike twice in the same place
There was 4 Eustling in the leaves and heard
! the dull 'pung' OF the forked stick in the earth
| Monroe had pinned a ti1ree-foot rattier 70 .
/ shelving rock where his snakeshp had been sun
ming himself The merciless forked stick pinioned
the serpent about five inches back of mis- fat head
! The pink mouth opened wide. the slender grace
ful neck arched and then the head of the vicious
and angry snake darted like arrow at the fork
| that held him a prisoner One could hear the
| poisoned fangs strike the stick Then the mottled
brown body Of the snake writhed and coiled around
| the forked stick
Hold him. cried 'Cogg' till the visitor sees
how the squirmin' devils when they are caught
| This is an ugly one. and full of fight
Half dozen times the rstter every moment