The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-04
A GREAT SNAKE KILLER.
A Winter Tale That Knocks All 9th
ers Cold.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

A Winter Tale That Knocks All 9th
ers Cold.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
LEXINGTON, KY, March 23.-The Tran
seript has received the following special dis
match from Richmond, KY:
Patrick Cunningham, of this place, is
death to snakes and venomous reptiles of
oil kinds. The snake that bites him dies in
great agony. frothing at the mouth and
dwelling to almost double its former pro-
horizons Cunningham has discovered
nolson more deadly than that of the reptile,
hut harmless as a lotion for the human
body. and the moment the fangs of the
snake come in contact with it
POWERFUL ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Is generated that drives the snakes own
noison through every bloodvessel in its
body Blood poisoning is the result, which
with the terrible electric shock, causes al
most instant death. Cunningham
killed during last summer over 1900
snakes in Madison county, and realized
quite handsome sum by his wonderful
skill in driving those offensive reptiles from
the premises of our citizens. Mr.. j. b.
Parks. who owns a beautiful farm near
Kingston, was overrun with rattlesnakeS.
He lost several head of fire Jersey cows,
which died from the effects of rautlesnake
bites. Then the blacksnakes carried off
hundreds of his young chickens The place
fairly swarmed with snakes, so Cunning
ham had to be called in. He can locate
den of snakes by their scent as easily as a
dog can track a rabbit He did not wait
for them to come out of their hole, but
whenever it was at all practicable he
crawled in after them and killed them right
and left with club he carried. All that
bit him died, but, of course, the best num-
3 l. Il aNr1Q
labor could not all get a chance to bite him,
and had to be dispatched with a club. He
estimated the number of snakes killed on
Parks farm at 1000.
Col. Irvine, who lives just on the out
skirts of Richmond, had three barrels of
Anderson county whisky, fourteen years
old, in his cellar. He
LEFT THE BUNG-HoLES OPEN,
to age it faster and make it mellow. Judge
of his surprise, therefore, when he went to
show it to some visiting friends one morn
ing, to find that it was nearly all gone, and
in one of the barrels only about two gal
Ions were left. In this barrel over forty
large blacksnakes were discovered, all coiled
up and in a beaStly state of intoXication
while in the dark corners of the cellar
groups of the rattlesnakes were coiled,
some SOLDERING up, others in various stages
of intoxication. They had got in through a
hole in the basement door, and as Col. Irvine
was away with his family for about three
months 1t is supposed the snakes, not being
disturbed, just stayed with the whisky, and
did not draw sober breath during all that
period This was last September. Patrick
Cunningham was called in, and he succeed
ed in killing over 5000 snakes on that place
within two weeks, receiving for his SER
vices the neat sum of $500, or 500 per
thousand.
Il L..
of Shackleford 81 Gentry, owned a half in
terest in the whisky destroyed by the
snakes, and to that gentleman your reporter
is indebted for these
ACTUAL FACTS.
Col. Cobe Taylor, p NJ. Pope, Claude
Smith and Col. Prather had to call in Gun
ningham to clear their places also. Tho
snakes have multiplied wonderfully in
Madison county since the war. 1t is sup
posed that they were frightened by the oar
and din of battle near Perryville, and con-
gregated for safety in this vicinity. Cum
bingham has engagements booked for clear
ing out the snakes on numerous farms in
this county during the coming summer.
Also, those on the farms of j. w. Paris
and Mayor Garner, of Winchester, and
Col. Amy belong and Isaac Rumsey,
Esq.,, of Lexington. Cunningham is a
rather small man, of very dark complex
ion, with a thick mat OF dark hair. He
has keen, piercing eyes, and talks with won
derful rapidity. He was born in India,
near Calcutta; his parents were Irish, and
i were sent out by the English government
for department work in that province. 1t
was IN the jungles of India that Cunning
ham discovered from the natives the form
ula for
MAKING THE DEADLY LOTION
50 fatal to poisonous reptiles. The natives
all anoint themselves, and are thus rem
dered snake-proof. Cunningham says be
will keep on killing and driving the snakes
until there is not one in the State of Ken
lucky, it the people will only pay him for
it. Of course, that would be au impossi-
bility for one man to accomplish, but he
says he likes the business, and hopes to do a
good work in the State if his life and health
are only spared for a few
years. I have stated in this
| article nothing but actual facts, with
out the slightest attempt at exaggeration.
/ If any of your readers doubt in the least
they can address Col Shackleford, of
Shackleford & Gentry; f. w. Virgins,
of Virgins & Brock p. NJ. Pope, Esq.
A Mr.. Willis, the Postmaster, or any other
reputable citizen of Richmond, or Mr..
Cunningham himself, and they will find
that the statements herein named are moth
ing but actual facts, and they will find that
in the matter of exterminatlng snakes from
the soil of old Kentucky that Mr.. Patrick