The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-11-12

Burning Snakes and Rsts.
Whitehall n. ~ Tmes.
In the town of Hague, on the hanks
of Lake George. opposite Huletti
Landin, has lived for . long time q
man and his wife, BY the name of Mr..
and Mn. Reuben Davis. This couple
have occupied q log cabin, which haa
been situated near the waters edge.
The place has been known as the
"Rattlesuake Mans House." and
many visitors have made excursions To
the spot to see this singular-lookine
couple. They have made . living
from rattlesnakes, capturing many Of
the reptiles, and obtaining the oil,
which always commands q high price.
At this cabin might always have been
seen large numbers of these reptiles.
The old man, who is now about SIS
years Of age, catches them with long
pair of wooden tongs, with which be
quickly and dexterously grasps them
Just below the head. He then killed
them outright or else removed their
fangs, and thus rendered them harm
less. He possessed power to charm
them also, it is said. In fact, he once
informed the writer, who visited his
cabin, that "thar warn't . varmint
that crawled but wot I ken make 'em
lay down az quiet as q lamb" The
old man had about his premises q
large number of snakes which he ex.
hibited to visitors, expecting and re-
many q nickle or dime in re-
turn. He never visited . village
without carrying several of his cdious
specimens with him, which he will
draw from his pocket and place about
his neck, or fondle or handle them rs
il they were kittens. By these exhi-
billions he picks up . good many cop.
pers. Many wonderful stories are
told about "Rube" and his wife, the
latter being as much Of Q curiosity Is
her husband. We have been told
that the very shanty swarmed with
rattlesnakes, the occupants not having
any fear whatever Of them.
The land on which the shanty stood
was lately purchased by Bishop Sey.
mour, of Illinois. The owner has
tried repeatedly to get the Davis
family to move Of. but the old couple
have refused until lately, when the
bishop threatened to eject them by
legal process. He finally offered Davis
ten dollars to leave peaceably, and the
old man, his wife and . boat load of
snakes left one day for Harbor Island,
about q mile south of where the COT
tage was situated. On Friday the
torch was applied to the premises.
When the Ere began to spread, q
terrible sight met the eyes Of those
present. 1t was sight that caused
he beholders to fee up the trees for
,afety. Kissing rattlesnakes and
'quealing rats poured out Of the
building from all directions. As the
not flames sprang toward the roof, the
Of the dry boards was
mingled with the rattle of scores of
naddened serpents and unearthly
7ells of rodents. The very roof seemed
o be alive with venomous reptiles,
md the bright green and white of
heir outside covering shone with .
,lare as the flames Lit upon :hem. One
f the men, who was . close eyewitness
f the scene. says: Zone large
make, about seven feet long. opened
lis mouth and out came at least two
4 the little reptiles. whose little tails |
hook in the air as if they, too, were
renzied at the destruction the flames
made of their home. Several snakes
harged madly upon the flames, only to
oil back burned to death, while the
ats that could get away took to the
FOODS. In one place a projecting log
1as made the object of attack BY three
lrge reptiles. As the trio charged
,adly upon it, q great sheet Of fire,
hose forked tongues were even moro
oisonOus than those of the snakes
oiled around and seized the reptiles,
ausing them to cease rafting, as each
ne dropped over dead. About the
round lay many dead serpents and
pasted rats. while some were writhing
nd seemed to be in fearful agony"
With His Boots On.
Fort Worth, Nov. 1.-Two men
ntered the Office of Justice McClung
: this city, this morning, and told
i'm they had found the dead body of