Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-01-07
NOnstrOlls Hides.

The hides of the bull, bear, COW, calf,
sheep, goat, kid, and even alligator, for
years past have been sold ia the leather
markets, and are considered the most
desirable for the manufacture of boots,
shoes, saddlery, harness, and other ar
ticles for the general use and wear of
both man and beast. But the ingenui-
ty OF the latter-day American seems to
have no limit. Forests and jungles of
the sunny eastern hemisphere have been
penetrated in order to satisfy the wants
Of fashion and of trade. The hides OF
the ponderous, clumsy, and ugly rhi-
noceros, and the treacher0us veno-
nous boa constructor are now being
turned into profitable account by man.
ufacturers.
The hide of tho rhinoceros though OF
the heaviest and thickest description,
would appear to be more serviceable
for the manufacture of saddlery and
harness, but this is not the case. Man
ufacturers and dealers in these articles
have discovered this most endurable
leather to be of little use in their trade,
because, owing to its solidity and thick
ness, needle of any power or sharp
ness can hardly be made to penetrate it.
Some few months ago manufacturing
frM tested the durability and useful.
ness OF rhinoceroahide in the manu-
facture Of carriage springs. It was
patented, but rhinoceros leather was in
toe great demand to satisfy the supply
Of these springs, and only by slow work
could orders be furnished; then the re-
suit of this innovation developed itself,
and the hideTof tae mighty. BEAST it was
discovered, could Hot Withstand as
much of the wear and tear as the deli
cate kid, if made in the same thickness
and applied to the same uses.
The skin was tanned and imported
here by foreign concerns, and when
placed on sale brought very high prices.
Its general unity was not known, to a
very great extent until lately. At pres.
ent the hide of the rhinoceros is chiefly
adapted to the manufacture of jewelers.
bufdng.wheels. which are required in
making polish on gold jewelry, like
that brought out in furnishing brass.
In Germany and England there are
about dozen tanneries whsre the skin
of the rhinoceros is prepared for the
market.
The skins are sent to the tanneries
direct from Africa in some cases by
regular hunting expedition parties. It
requires from two to three years. time
to prepare the hides of these huge
monsters for the leather market. When
the time and cost required are taken
into consideration, the cost of rhinoce.
rou laotbor oftor ipoporto%;op ;r conci1
cradle. An enterprising tannery has
been established in Hartford, Connect
cut, for the reception of the raw
skins.
They are enabled to furnish the
leather to the trade of this city at a
thickness OF from half to an eighth of
an inch at 81 per pound. It takes but
very little to make pound. From one
whole rhinoccros 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 S400. Although it takes
nearly three years to prepare one of
these hides for the market, at least one
hundred could be run through the pro-
cess at the same time.
The skins OF the Demonstration are
not supplied through the European
market, but are directly brought from
the deep forests oil, both Asia and Africa.
The serpents are trapped and secured
by the slaves of Oriental Turkish and
Egyptian tradespeople, who have long
been supplying the demands Of snake
charmers, showmen and stylish danes
and damsels of foreign countries. The
snakes are often worn around the netks
and arms of these people while alive.
They are made harmless by the skill of
the necromancer or serpent.doctor, who
is honored for his wonderful powers in
successfully tearing out the fangs and
drawing the deadly poison from these
serpents. At present large fancy
goods establishment on Broadway, near
Twentieth street, has introduced the
skin of the Demonstration among some
OF the most fashionable and convenient
OF their articles OF ladies' wear and
personal adornment. Ladies' waist
belts and chatelains are worn, made
Of tho serpents' skins, upon our streets
daily.
Such appliances create curiosity
Wu0I0tO4 b0OAy AOOhAA6 " WAN ohA
barbarous in their designs as to cause
q suspicion of doubts as to their gen.
uineness. They bring good prices. A
belt alone costs 81, but with the chate-
laine attachment $12 are demanded.
Card, cigarettes, cigar cases and
portemonnaies are made to order
from the same material, as we'll as
small satchels and shopping bags. In
securing these king serpents OF the
forest and jungle the greatest of dan
gems are encountered. Breeding sets
are often obtained.
The manner of preparing the skins
for the tannery is OF delicate nature.
After the serpent has been put to death
by q means that will preserve the skin
from any cut or injury, the body ia
passed over to taxidermist, who strips
the hide as he would the skin from an
eel. The tanner doctors the frail hide
so that it becomes perfectly pliable, and
retains all its natural appearance and
color as in life. Demonstrators,
though very ferocious aud dangerous
species of serpent, are also of very
costly order to obtain. In this country
they have heretofore been considered
only in the light Of an attractive feature