Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1898 — HE FOOLED THE SNAKE [ARTICLE]

HE FOOLED THE SNAKE

And Proved Himself the Smairtee* Frog in the United States. Milton Lake Is a good-sized body te water at the extreme northwestern seo tion of this city, says a Rahway (N. JJ correspondent At the eastern extremity of the lake is a large dam, ovei which superfluous water empties into the Rahway River. Thousands of hugt rocks and boulders support this dam, and during a dry spell, when very little or no water is running over the dam, scores of huge, ugly-looking, browncolored water snakes use the rocks fol sun baths.

It was at this point that Nick White witnessed a singular scene the other day. He was watching the snakes and had his eye'on an old fellow, who, he declares, “had scales on "him like a salamander,” when his attention waw drawn from the pilot to a frog that wax hopping alottg on the bare around between the rocks and the river. The frog was nearing the snake, apparently unmindful of his peril, for snakes love frogs and toads. But this frog had evltently “been to school,” as subsequent svents proved. “I guess the old snake had one eye open,” said Nick, "for as soon as ths frog came in reach he sprang for him. The frog, seeing him, essayed to get away, making a high leap toward the water. But the snake was too quick for him and got between him and the water. It was then that the frog manifested his schooling. He picked up a twig about four Inches long and held it In his mouth like a bit I wondered what for, and when I ascertained, said I to myself! ‘Nick, that is the smartest frog In the United States.’ The snake seized the frog by the fore leg, and, lengthening out, openpd his jaws and wriggled forward. “In went the frog's leg, and then, afr ter many efforts, the snake got th# frog’s nose and part of his head in until he came to the twig, which, extending, an inch beyond his own jaws, queered him and saved the frog. The snake writhed and wriggled frantically. H# relaxed the muscles of his jaws, as doe# a darky just after he cuts a watermelon, but all in vain. I laughed so hard and so long that I became weak «n my knees and had to sit down and rest before I looked for a club to help the frog out of the difficulty. Then I got a big stick and moved quickly down upon the sanke, who was too busy to hear me. “With one strong, well-delivered blow I broke' his spine and paralyzed him, and as his jaws relaxed the frog backed sut, dropped the twig, looked up at me and gave a croak of thanks. Before I could reach him he gave two leaps and wa# in his element-”