Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-12-28
HEN BATTLES SNAKE.
Huge Reptile Attacks Setting
Chicken and Wins.
Arkansas Man photographs House
Cat and the invader as Both Are
Held Under the Spell OF the
other'a Eye.

NantCoA. Ol Tie BC1s
snakes ever killed In this section of
the country was slain by A. #. Boden-
hofer OF this place 1t was black
snake and measured 8 feet III Inches
In length. and was az large around the
middle OF the body as the calf OF
grown mans leg. II put up a hard
fight until charmed by a house cat,
when It was easily dispatched.
The snake was killed under unusual
conditions. About 10 o'clock In the
morning Mr.. Bodenhofer5s attention
was attracted to his chicken yard by
the unusual cackling and scared cries
OF his barnyard fowls. His attention
was called to the inside of the chicken
house by the angry ciucking off, set
ting hen. He peered hastily through
an open chinking In the building and
In the dim Tight saw an enormous
black snake ON the board ON which
the box nest with the setting hen sat
The hen vafihntly defended her I'M
Matched brood. meeting every attack
with O flank movement of her beak.
The night waved warm for some min
utes. but finally the hen gave fright
ened caclrle of defeat and few on the
nest. leaving the. snake victorious with
the spoils OF the battle ut his disposal.
Mr.. Bodenhofer is photographer.
and II flashed across his mind that
the snake would make rather unique
picture ON account of its size. II he
could photograph It alive. The an
terror OF the chicken, house was TOO
dark to make a successful exposure
and he was In a quandary.
Mr.. Bodenhofer became active when
he say his quarry escaping and raked
him away from the hole with the noe.
Then a happy idea crossed his mind.
The next time Bodenhofer waited IN
I'll he had Strengthened up. then he
caught the very end of the hoe handle
and at arms length threw the blade
and crook OF the hoe around the stir,
fened. upright body Of the reptile and
started on a run through the door
toward the front yard. dragging the
twisting, squirming monster with him.
His wife. seeing him coming.
screamed and slammed the kitchen
door. badly frightened.
Old Pete. the gray and white house
cat, was sitting on the tamb OF the
door when It was slammed 30 hastily
shut. and was thrown rudely and bod
ily down. the, kitchen steps and onto
the ground. Ole Pete picked himself
up, looking rather fused" just as
Mr.. Bodenhofer untangled the snake
from the hoe and dropped It in an
open space about 20 feet from the
house and ran for HIS camera In the
front ROOM & Old Pete's attention was
attracted to the snake and he started
over to investigate.
There waa something IN the beady.
bright eya8 Of the snake that held
Pete spellbound., Pete shivered. He had
never felt that way before. The
snakes head slowly raised a few
inches from the ground and began to
move rhythmically from side to side.
Pete's tail; also rose and followed the
sinuous rhythmical movements of the
acknowledged head.
Mr.. BodeDhofer by this time had To-
Gated his camera In the front room
and came running with It, expecting
To see the snake disappearing through
the panels. Of the fence. The unusual
specticle which met his gaze was so
unlocked for that he. like the cat and
snake. was held speilbound for few
seconds. His professional spirit broke
the spell. What an ideal and perfect
w natural pose. Hastily, but care.
fully. he advanced on the silent pair
The snakes head lowered to the
ground, but the piercing eyes never
left the cat. The cats tail dropped
but the piercing glance never failed
Mr.. Bodenhofer set his tripod, TO-
cused, put in his plateholder and
pressed the bulb. He carried his
camera back to the house and return
ed. There was still no change in the
attitudes OF the reptile and the cat.
The hoe lying on the ground, sug
rested the end OF the tableau, and
taking up this weapon that he had
used with such good results In the
last encounter, he again advanced on
the snake. Old Pete held him spell.
bound. Mr.. Bodenhofer struck. The
f,rst lick broke, the big snakes back.
with the sharp edge OF the hoe he
then chopped on its head. Old Pete
stood calmly by and watched the exc.
cution, then slowly walked of to a.
sunny place on the porch. licked his
= a -. .had hfa fnna af'f