Copperhead Caution
This fellow was mighty brave, but he also knew his luck could run out on the turn of a stone.
Three Stone, Three Snake, Four Stone—But Man Lost His Nerve.
At a certain point where the Buffalo Rochester & Pittsburg railway are making an extension to their lines near Homer City, copperhead snakes are said to be unusually plentiful. The other day an Italian laborer was told to get some rocks out of the way and after securing a crowbar he went to work.
Under the first stone he found a copperhead, which he dispatched immediately; turning over the second stone he found another copperhead ready to bite him, and killed it; going to a third stone he turned it over and there lay another snake ready to dart at him. By this time the Italian was wrought up to a high nervous tension, but succeeded in killing this reptile; then he went up to the boss and said:
“Why you no let me work at some other place. The Devil him sure must have been here. One stone, one snake two stone, two snake, three stone, three snake, but I kill him all. Now want nother place, for maybe four stone, four snake and him bite me.”
Indiana Evening Gazette (PA) 19 Jul 1913
