The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-28
HUNTING RATTLEsNAKES.


Of the experience of party of snake
hunters in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. The party
set out on the 18th Of July, 1876. A
newspaper man who was with them pub.
fishes an account Of the expedition
The party was to start from the cabin
Of Jake Smith, whose home is four miles
from Snipe creek, on spur Of the Blue
Ridge that juts out from the northwest
boundary of Lehigh county. Three miles
from his place is barren tract known as
Rattlesnake Ledge Smith had three
friends, Henry Larkins, Budd Hemple
and Hiram Endy, Of whom he is the ac.
knowledged leader He is tall, raw
boned six-footer, with face covered with
short black wbiskers. The three Others
are rough woodsmen, yet full Of fun and
fond of adventure. They seemed to be
elated at having stranger in the party.
"Just come along" said Smith; ''you
won't be getting into any harm. Put on
heavy pair of boots, and keep your eyes
open and your wits about you. -
The party started early. The Ledge
reached, pipes we're smoked until sun-up.
"Ill never forget my first hack at a
snake in these parts, said Smith; "it was
just across yonder, about hundred yards.
1t was a red-hot day in August. / went
across, and just ahead Of me | saw six.
footer stretched out asleep. | went for
him, but missed my mark, and in second
the rattle tangled. He made spring,
aud grabbed me by the arm and held fast.
Before could think of what was doing
this dog here grabbed the snake and shook
the life out of it. They laid me out, and
Bill Henry, dead two years now, put his
mouth to my bare arm, and drew every
bit Of the poison out Of it. They tied me
up, put on a leaf or two, and | never felt
it afterward
Smith went away, and after he had been
gone half hour he called up from the
rocks, and we went TO him. He stood
smiling, and exclaimed, "Heres an early
bird out for an airing" On the rock, and
pinned to il by forked stick, writhed
reptile about four feet in length. Jake
told Endy to hold the prong down. TAX
ing out a small vial from vest pocket, he
saturated bit Of black wadding with the
liquor it contained. He placed the wad-
ding on stick, and then put it into the
serpeDts mouth. IL operated like magic.
The snakes body dropped fiat on the rock.
"That'll do" said Jake. "Take the
prong off He's dosed like a charm
Jake then held the snake by the tail,
aud said that the stuff would keep it un-
conscious for ten minutes. The reptile
had six fully developed rattles. These
were cut of. The ten minutes had scarcely
elapsed before the snake revived. His
throat commenced swelling, his eyes pro-
truded, and he shook his tail, but the rat
ties were gone. He tried to shake again,
aud then sank his fangs deep into his body
again and again, frothed at the mouth,
and died apparently in agony.
II just did that to let you know how
mad rattler gets when he is clipped" I"
said Jake. "You see how blue the inside
Of his mouth is? Well, that's the way
they all get. That pronged tongue of his
is not dangerous, Behind that long tooth
is small bag that | will show you after a
while. II is kind of a sack about half
as big as pea. In that is the poison.
When a rattler gets mad, aud Just before
he strikes, he'll give his teeth bath Of
poison and then drive in the fangs. The
teeth are hollow on the ends, and no mat
ter if they 90 through mans clothes the
poison won't wipe off, but il win drop
when the teeth touch blood
The sun was very hot and the barren
ledge, exposed to the full rays, was getting
scorching. Each man was provided with
stout hickory stick, with prong at the
lower end. Each put on his feet rubber
bottoms made out Of cast-off shoes, in order
to get over the rocks without making a
noise. Each took different direction,
with the understanding that they should
meet ut the spring, two miles over the
hill, at noon.
"You come with me-" said Jake, whist
ling for the dog, and the hunters separa-
ted. They were provided with shrill whis-
ties, and il was specially understood that
they should at no time be separated among
the rocks at distance beyond hearing, 50
that whenever one might want help the
other could come 10 his assistance withont
losing much time.
awe generally find em LAYING stretched
on the rocks. They're naturally lazy. and
they take to the sun like ducks to water.
They don't do much but sleep. On these
hot rocks they become full Of poison.
Look there at that dog will you?''
"NIai" stood on a ledge Of yellow rock
about fifty yards from where we were.
His body was silent as statue and his tail
waggled with the regularity Of a pendulum.
We approached silently, and when VIC we're
within five feet Of the rock the dog left
his post and got behind his master Jake
pointed ahead and there lay sattlesnake
seven ieet IN length sleeping IN the sun.
Il lay stretched out; The hunter walked
up carefully, placed the pole in position,
a. sa.Ir IL ~