The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1886-08-26
A KENTUCKY sNAKEEATER
The Remarkable Gastronomic Taste
Of Mr.. 6. F. Mcqueen, the
Stock Breeder.

Mr.. G. T. Mcqueen, of this city,
at one time connected with the
Kentucky stock farm, has quite a
local reputation Us an eater l
had a long talk with him, and he
says he has eaten along the whole
line of dishes-American, Eng
lish, German, French and Itqlian.
He appreciates oysters in all their
forms, chicken and tender frog
legs, and when real hungry, can
tackle corn-bread and sow-belly.
But for dish that will make the
gods smack their lips in genuine
satisfaction, give him fat black
snake fried in butter or lard, or
better in nice snake oil. When
snakes are in season he eats them
every few days. He also classes
snails among his list of delicacies.
These he cooks with macaroni.
"When did you first commence
eating snakes?' asked the report
er.
''In 1853 / was in California
among the Indians. They ate
snakes, generally black and rat
tlesnakes. I once tasted piece
of the latter, which they had
cooked. l found it had delicate
favor, but l did not then like the
idea OF eating snakes. This le-
pugnance, I found, was only an
idea, there being no reason fer it.
[ came home to Franklin county,
KY, in 1859. While at home |
went out in clearing, near my
fathers house, and saw an old
Irish hermit, who had resided
there many years, kill q black
snake. He started to his cabin
with it, dragging it behind him.
He laid it out on a plank, cut off
the head and threw the body in
bed of hot ashes to skin it. I
asked him what he was going to
do. He said he was going to eat
il; that it was fine food, and invi-
ted me to sup with HIM. L COM
piled with his request. After
slEinnis1S IL he laid II Ia salt and
water for awhile. lie then fried
it in butter and lard, and it was
really delicious. The more ] ate
the more [ wanted. Since that
time | have had weakness. for
snake meat, especially black
snake. ! am afraid of the meat
Of rattlesnakes. [ often give
half dollar for good sized black
snake, which [ cook myself. Ey-
cry yelr l manage to get some.
Since I have been in Lexington I
have not been fortunate enough
to indulge my taste as often as [
would like. Good, nice, fat black
snakes are scarce in old settled
counties like this, and | have to
get them from other places. An
old man who lives in one of the
mountain counties, and is trap
per and hunter, and also appreci-
ates the delicacy, often sends me
black snake oil, which l use to Try
doughnuts in"
At this juncture the speaker
opened little handbag, which he
is in the habit of carrying all the
time, and from it took a doughnut
fried in snake oil. Breaking it in
two, he ate half with great gusto,
proffering the other half to your
reporter.
"Not any, thanks" replied the
reporter to his pressing invitation
to "try it."
cit is splendid. A snake eats
nothing but what is nice and clean,
and it stands to reason that it is
good. 1t does not eat filth like
hog"
Mcqueen is robust, brawny
man of over six feet in height,
and man of intelligence.-Lex-
ington letter to Cincinnati CJm-
merclal.
Good Results in Every Case.
d. A. Bradford, wholesale pa
per dealer Of Chattanooga, Tenn,