The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-11-25
MONSTROUS HIDES.
HOW THE SKINS OF THE RHISoCERos AND
BOA. CONSTRUCTOR ARE UTILIZED.


BOA. CONSTRUCTOR ARE UTILIZED.
Albany Argus: The hides of the bull,
bear, calf, goat, sheep. kid, and even the
alligator, for years past, have been sold
In the leather market, and are considered
the most desirable for the manufacture
of boots, shoes, saddlery, harness, and
other articles for the general use and
wear of both man and beast. But the
ingenuity of this latter day American
seems to have no limit. Forests and
jungles OF the eastern hemisphere have
been penetrated in order to satisfy the
wants of fashion and trade. The hides
OF the ponderous, clumsy and ugly rhi-
noceros and the treacherous, venomous
boa-constrictor are now being turned in
to profitable account by manufacturers.
The hide of the rhinoceros, being of
the heaviest and thickest description,
would appear to many to be more SER
viceable for the manufacture of saddlery
and harness, but such is not the case.
Manufacturers and dealers in these ar
tioles have discovered this most endura-
bic leather to be of little use in their
trade, because, owing 10 its soiidity and
thickness, a needle of any power or sharp
ness can hardly made to penetrate it.
SNn1n two r1nnAhc
firm tested the durability and usefulness
OF rhlnoceros hide in the manufacture of
a carriage spring. It was patented, but
rbinoceros leather was in too great de-
mand to satisfy the supply of these
springs, and only by slow work could or
ders be furnished; then the result of this
innovation developed itself, and the hide
of the mighty beast, it was discovered,
could not withstand as much of wear and
teqr as the delicate kid, if made of the
same thickness ank applied to the same
uses.
The skin was tanned and imported
here by foreign concerns, and when plac
cd on sale, brought very high prices. It's
general utility was not known to very
great extent until lately. At present the
hide Of the rhinooeros is chiefly adapted
to the manufacture of jewelers. buffing
wheels, which are required in making
polish on gold jewelry, like that brought
out in furnishing brass. In Germany
and England there are about a dozen
tsnneries where the skin of the rhi-
noceros is prepared for the market.
The skins are sent to the tanneries di-
rect from Africa, in some cases by regu-
lar hunting expedition parties. 1t re-
quires from two.to three years time to
prepare the hides of these hrge monsters
Tor the IeaGner marknt V-L--- 4lo tlue
and cost required are taken into consid-
Grafton, the cost of rhinoceros leather af-
ter Importation is considerable.
From one whole rEinoceros skin it is
estimated that at least $50 pounds can
easily be secured for utilization from the
tannery, and when assorted will, when
sold, bring from $500 to S4OO. Although
it takes nearly three years to prepare one
of these hides for the market, at least
one hundred could be run through the
process at the same time.
The skins Of the boa-constrictors are
supplied through the European market,
but are directly brought from the deep
forests Of both Asia and Africa. The
serpents are trapped and secured by the
slaves OF. Oriental, Turkish and Egyptian
trsdespeople, who have long been sup
plying the demands of snake-charmers,
showmen and stylish danes and damseIs
of foreign countries. The snakes are Of
ten worn around the necks and arms of
these people when alive. They are made
harmless by the skill of the necromancer
or serpent doctor, who is honored for his
successful power IN tearing out the fangs
and drawing the poison from these dead
ly serpents.
Ladies waist belts and chatelains are
worn made Of the serpents' skins upon
the streets daily. Such appliances create
curiosity wherever seen, looking SO wild
aud barbarous in their design as to cause
doubt as to their genuineness. They
bring good prices. Card, cigarette and
cigar cases and portemonnaiesa are made to
order from the same material as well as
small satchels and shopping bags. In
securing these king serpents OF the forest
and jungle, the greatest of dangers are
encountered.
The manner of preparing the skins for
the tannery is of delicate nature. Al
ter the serpent has been put to death bv
means that will preserve the skin from
injury, the body is passed over to tax
idermist, who strips the hide as he would
the skin from an eel The tanner doe
tors the frail hide so that it becomes per-
fectly pliable, and retains all its natural
appearance and color as is life. Boa
constructors, though a very ferocious and
dangeroug species of serpent, are also of
a very costly order TO obtain. In this
country they have heretofore been con-
sidered only in the light of an attractive
feature among many curiosities attached
to circue, side show, or private or pub
lie museum.
Rev. GEo. Il. Thayer, of Bourbon,
Ind, known to every one II that vicini-
tY as a most influential citizen. and