The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-20
OLD RuBE AND TnE sSAKEs.
serpents Charging Madiy into FIamss-How n
Nest was Broken Up.

In the town of Hague. on the banks of
Lake George. opposite Huleits Landing, has
lived for a long illnc man and his wife, by the
name OF Mr.. and Mrs. Reuben Davis. This
couple have occupied u log cabin. which has
been situated near the waters edge. The place
has boon known ~ the " Rsttlesnake Mans
House" aud many visitors have made eXcur-
sion- to the spot 10 see this singular looking
couple. They have made a living from rattle
Snnkes. capturing many of tho reptiles and Oh
tnihlng the oil. which always commands "a high
price, ~ this cabin might always have been
seen lRrge numbers OF these reptiles. The old
man, VINO Is now about 60 years OF age. catches
them with Il long pair OF wooden tongs. with
which he quickly and deSteTouslY grasps
either Ellis them outright or else re-
moves their hnss. aud thus renders them
alsp. 20 H. sad. In fact he once informed the
writer. who visited his cabin that " thar warn I
II yarmui TINT crawled but wot ken make EN-
lay down ~ quiet AS "a lamb" The old man had
about HIS premises large numbar Of snakes
which b" exhibited 10 visitors, expecting and
receiving many "a nickel or dime In return. lie
never VISITS u village without carrying several
OF his odious specimens wlth him. which no
Will draw from hi poke, ana place about his
neck, or fondle and handle them as IL they were
Kittens. by thcse exhibitions he picks w a
good many coppcrs. Many wonderful stories
ar" told about Old Kute" and his wife the
mtt-r being ar much Of a curiosity as her hus-
band. We have been told that tho very shanty
haylnE any fear whatever Of them.
The land on which the shanty stood was
lately pure ased 10y Bishop seymour Of Illinois.
llho llill 10 Tie lJuNls
fnmly 10 inoNe OIL but the old couple have re-
fused until lHicly. when the Bishop Threatened
e. eject them Toy Legal process. He finally offered
DAVIS ton dollars tu leave peac"nbly. and the old
nun. his wife. ant boat load ~ snakes lot one
day for Hurhor Island. about a mile. south of
where the coitag" wis situated, On Friday the
fire begun 10 spread u terrible sight met the
caused III" h"hOlders 10 flee up the trees for
safety. Kissing rattlesnHkes and squenlin.s
rats poured out of Ia" building from all dircc-
iionS. As the hot flames sprilng toward the
roof the crackling Of the dry boards was
mingled with the rattle o.; scores Of mnddeued
srrpcn's and unrdrthy yrlls Of rodents. The
very roof seemed To h" alive with vcnomous
reptiles aud the bright green and white of
their outside covering ,houc with "a glare Us the
flames M urpn them. Onr of the men. who WIS
"A CLOSE eyc-wtnrs- Of the scene. says: one
large snake. about seven feet long. opened his
mouth. and out cumr az least two score Of little
rrutile-. whose little tails shook IN the air NJ il
they, tNn, were ir,nzied at the DESTRUCTION the
flames made ui thor home. Several snakes
ciHrgcd malN upon TIA" flames. only to fail
ua'N burned tO death. while the rats that could
gt away took To thu woods. In ono place u pro-
lcDtlug lnss WAS made the object OF attack by
three large reptiles. A. the trio charged mgdly
upon II. a great sheet OF fire. whose forkod
tongues were even more poisonous than those
of the snakes. rolled around and seizod the rep
tiles. causing them To- cease rafting. us each
one dropped over dead. About the ground lay
many lead serpenis and roasted rats. while
some were writing and seemed 10 bo in fearful
agony.