Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-09-10
Snakes.

will not down. Page upon page Is
written BY magazine snake fakir'
proving that there can't be such
thing as a reptile with sense enough
to locomote itself by merely putting
its tail in it's mouth. stiffening its
backbone and letting go. Then comes
q horny handed man with an III seen
that knocks the learned mans pre-.
sumptions out Of time. The latest
thing in hoop snakes that we have
heard is rattler that when plagued
beyond endurance by some men at
tempted to roll up hill. 1t tried this
number Of times before it was killed.
Snakes do not always travel upon
their bellies, as shown by the testi-
mony of a close observer Of nature
who was raised in rattlesnake woods.
On one occasion he came upon large
snake lying beside the road. The
brush was thick, and he was unable
to dispatch the snake with a club.
Only slate gravels were to be found.
One of these struck the rattler on the
head, but it only served to scare him.
The snake rose up on his tail and
went hopping down the hill like a
squirrel at rate Of speed that would
surprise one, equal to, if not faster
than the black racer. On another oc-
casion the same man came upon big
rattler which, before he could kill it,
jumped off in the same way.
A most Gioklish experience with a
snake is related of the late Samuel
Moore, on Marlin Mountain. 1t was
wheat harvest time, and as usual a
half dozen or more rattlers had been
killed in the field. They had graded
around to where tree had fallen in.
to the field. Repeatedly had they
heard the warning Of a rattler, but
look as they might no one could find
the snake nor locate exactly the place
from whence came the warning. 1t
was decided that the snake was in the
tree top, and as the binders were close
upon the GRADER, some more grain
was cut before looking for the snake.
The rsttling continued, tho weaker,
after the tree top had been cleared
away. Not far in the field Was
stump, but the snake was not there,
but as they went in this direction the
warning became louder. Finally the
sound was located at a wheat sheaf.
The snake was not under it, however,
but when the sheaf was examined
about six inches of a rattler's tail pro.
truded from the bottom Of the sheaf.
Mr.. Moore had picked up the snake
with the wheat, and being conscisn-
tious worker, had tied the sheaf 30
tight that the snake not only could
not get away, but was nearly smoth.
cred.
At the same farm two of the sons
were returning home one night in
snake time. They heard snake rat
tie near the road, but were unable to
see or locate it exactly. 1t was de-
cided that good run was better than
a bad stand, and they started for
home at good pace. The one be-
hind had taken but a few strides be.
fore he felt the snake strike his leg.
The fangs hung in his heavy trousers
and the snake was dragged along:
So fast did the boys run that at turn
in the path the snake was jerked sew.
ersl yards in the bushes. Going on a
few hundred yards they were again
startled by a rattler in the grass.
This one was 50 near that they could
locate and avoid it. The next morn
ing they returned along the same
path, and found and killed both
snakes.
The rattler has a relentless enemy
in the black snake, but it ia not often
that man is met who has actually
seen these snakes engaged in a mortal
combat. Some weeks since an &C.
qusintance was in the woods and
saw big racer coming as if on an
errand. he is not in the
habit Of killing harmless reptiles, so
he sal himself to watch. Near was
a large hollow stump. which the black
snake proceeded to go round and
round, raising up to look over the
top now and then. The first thought
that occurred to the man was that
the snake had located setting pleas
ant and was trying to charm II or
steal the eggs. Pretty soon, how
ever, a rattler made his presence
known. After long play for posi-.
tion, the blacksnaks darted into the