The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-10-03
THE RarTLEsNAKE INDUSTRY.
Turning his Useful Serpent Into Articles
of Ornament and Healing.

Turning this Useful Serpent lcto Articles
of ornament and Healing.
MIDDLETowN, N. j., Sept. 16-For
many years different persons living in
the mountains of Sullivan and Ulster
every wear in the sale of rattlesnate oil,
which is believed to possess wonderful
curative powers by a large proportion of
the inhabitants of not only those, but Of
adjoining counties. Many snakes are
killed during the summer season, but
the grand gathering is in the fall, when
thew have returned to their dens and
wintering places. These retreats are
we'll known to the snake hunters, and
they choose sunny days in October and
November for raiding them. On such
days the reptiles crawl out of their dens
in the rocks and huddle together by the
score, different varieties frequently be-
ing found massed together. The snakes
are dull and sluggish at that time of the
wear, and come out to bask in the sum-.
The hunters arm themselves with the
old-fashioned fails, and when they come
upon a pile Of the snakes proceed at n c
to thresh the life out Of them. But few
escape. The rattlesnakes are assorted
from the other species and carried home
where the oil is fried out as lard is from
pork. No treatment Of the oil is neces-
sary. 1t is bottled up and is ready for
the market. AS high as ST. an n has
been paid for it by believers in its value
as a liniment for rheumatism and all
kindred ills.
The snake hunters of the Shawangunk
r1ny1ptainc pacaiya Jn1anU Or6prS from
showmen for live rattlesnakes, for which
they receive from so cents to 81 each,
according to size and condition; but
during the past summer an industry in
snakes sprung up which is entirely new
and novel, and bids fair to become the
most profitable of any of the branches
of the trade, for it has it's foundation in
q new fashion in female adornment.
This industry is the supplying of rat
tlesnake skins for ladies belts. Almost
every village in Sullivan and Ulster
counties is a summer resort for city peo-
pie, and hundreds of New York ladies
spend the heated term there. One day
last summer the wife Of q well-known
chemist Of New York. who was stop
ping in Sullivan county, attended a pic
mic, and while walking with another
lady in the woods was confronted by an
clOIIlIOuS IdLUlCSIldhC3 WIIICIl lay oIICOG-#
" in front of her in the mountain path.
The lady who was with her screamed
and ran away, but the chemists wife
picked up a cudgeI and killed the snake.
She broughti it to the picnic ground. 1t
was four feet in length, and had a
SPLENDID set of fourteen rattles. The
markings of a rattlesnake are very beau
tifuI, but the skin of this n was par
ticularly perfect and brilliant in color.
The chemists wife caused 3 shudder OF
horror to run through the assemblage of
her fair companions by saying that it she
could by any means have the snakes
skin prepared she would wear it as a
girdle.
She consulted her husband, and he
consented to experiment with the skin.
1t was removed from the snake the next
day and stretched on a board. The
chemist treated it with some preparation
of arsenic and sweet oil. The prepare
ton was applied daily, and in a few
days the skin was cured with all IT'S
freshness, brilliance and pliability pre-
served. The rattles and head were left
on the akin. The husband took it to
New York, where it was fitted with q
handsome silver clasp, and his wife APP
peared among the other guests with a
Si1uIC budU QLOO VIVIAN An "
part with.
That set the fashion, and there was at
once a big demand for rattlesnake skins
among the ladies, not only in that par
ticular blaze, but at scores of other
places, for the news Of Mrs. IS girdle
spread rapidly from one resort to anoth-
er. Dainty damsels who a week before
would have tainted almost at the men,
ton of a rattlesnake, Suddenly became
deeply interested in the beauty and di-
mensions of the deadly reptile, and lost
no time in having its many-hued ep-
idermis encircle their slender waists.
R~attlesnakes quickly went up in d
market, until it was a very modest
mountaineer indeed who hadn't the
heart to ask SIS for q skin with perfect
%rattles, a sound head, and clear spots.
Next season they expect to do q great
business in "hides,u and some OF them
predict that the price will go up to FLO
for primes, with corresponding rates for
lower grades for the nurse-girl and Ia
dles'-maid market.
Gamblers Shrewd Device.