The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29
BY HERBERT AsBURY.

w TnEN raymond II. Ditmars
w and Charles z. Snyder. cur
ator and head keeper. re-
spectively. Of the New York geological
Park-which is the polite name for
the Bronx Zoo-went down into the
Great River cypress swamp OF South
Carolina, forty miles up the Savannah
River Anew weeks ago TO bag enough
snakes and alligators and toads and
things Like that to replenish the stock
Of the zoo, they made their home and
headquarters in an old abandoned
cabin on the reservation of the Pine
Land Club, which is composed OF a
group OF New York business men who
like the weird and the wild Of nature
and there is nothing wilder or more
weird'than a cypress swamp, with It's
blasted stumps OF trees. It's dead and
dismal vegetation and It's long reaches
Of wet, mushy sand.
/ The abandoned cabin was in the
: most weird portion of that weird coun-
try and 1t was dirty. Mrs. Ditmars
and her daughters, Gladys and Bea-
trice, went along with the snake hunt
ers 20 see that they kept their feet
dry and had plenty to eat. The FIRST
day they had the cabin she decided
It needed a thorough housecleaning
| This she and her two daughters
started to give It, while Mr.. Ditmars
and Mr.. Snyder went out into the
swamp to look over what was to be
their hunting ground for the next two
or three weeks. or until they had cap
tured enough snakes to I'LL the empty
places in the snake dens OF Bronx
Park.
The Piccaninny Finds . Monster.
The sixth member Of the snake
hunting expedition was a dirty. ragged
little negro boy who rejoiced in the
appellation of George Washington
Jackson something or other-none OF
the Ditmars ever knew his last name.
George Washington Jackson was sort
OF general factotum and all around
lac SdIIiCh, ptlpTt Ine cN-
petition was over everything from
bags OF snakes to buckets Of water,
although he never carried snake
that he didn't protest vigorously and
with much rolling Of his big eyes.
George Washington Jackson helped
with the housekeeping, getting In the
way and driving a few toads and in
Vulnerable cockroaches from the safe
haven of the cabin into the dangers
OF the swamp. and finally Mrs. Dit
mars got the idea that a big buckle
berry pie would be fine thing to OFFER
her husband and Mr.. Snyder when
they came back from their first snake
hunt Swanps In that section literally
swarm with wild berry patches, which
IS one OF the reasons why 1t is such a
good place for snakes. and there was
little huckleberry patch right out in
me 'front.' yard. not fifteen feet from
mo door Of the cabin.
George Washington Jackson" said
Mrs. D!tmars, you get a bucket and
20 out and pick enough huckleberries
Ter a pie"
So George Washington jackson got
his bucket and out he went. Inside
me house, for a few minutes, the
three women could hear the buckle
berries plunking against the bottom OF
me boys bucket, and they could hear
george Washington Jackson grooming
ore OF the plalntive negro melodies of
the south. But in about ten minutes
'hey heard the mightiest roar Of fright
nat ever issued from the throat OF
4 little darkey, then the crash OF the
bucket as George Washington Jackson
east 1t from him. and the next instant
very frightened little negro dashed
INTO the cabin and plunged head first
under a table.
What's the natter" asked Mrs.
Ditmars.
"Lawsy massy." exclaimed George
washington Jackson. II done almost
ort my foot right on the biggest snake
thoY Ia in the whole world, They Is
snake out In dat berry patch big
germ what elefunt is big!"
Come out and show us where II
a' asked Gladys Ditmars.
NO. MANI" said George Washing |
ton Jackson. positively, ~ amt goln'
90 near dat snake! OATS the biggest
'sttlin' snake in tho whole wide
vorp."