The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-10-09
RATTLESNAKE FARM.
A Pemsvlvanian Who Raiaes Reptiles for
Food as Other Men Grow Sheep.


The Susquehanna river rises in Cen
trail New York and, flowing southwark,
enters the north western corner Of Penn
sylvania, near Great Bend, Susquehanna
County, and, taking . westerly course,
follows closely the boundary line of the
two States. Ranges of hills, rising al
most to the dignity of mountains, skirt
its banks on either side and present .
rough, ragked and rocky surface, 50 that
tion; but wild and hilly and barren as it
was in many parts, the pioneers Of the
country, intent on securing homes and
farms and living somewhere in that
region, found here and there q valley
and running stream and fiat place
where they could plant a house and
clear up few acres Of land for farming.
Among those streams is one named
Snake creek, which, rising in a beauti-
full lake near Montrose, meanders
through a valley and finds its way into
the Susquehanna about twelve miles
from the lake in which it rises This
creek was 50 named by the early set
tiers because Of the fact that, while
bears and wolves and other ferocious
beasts were very numerous in all that
region, snakes we're conspicuously more
numerous. One of the highest hills,
whose head rises we'll up into the blue,
was named Blue Top because the large
and luscious blue whortleberries were
found on it in large quantities. The
large rattlesnake was found there, as he
is to-day, nearly as plentiful as the Der.
ries, and in the season of ripe berries he
is exceedingly restive and hostile to all
intruders.
A few days since, as q large party
was ascending the mountain, one of
their number called attention to an OBJ
ject just ahead Of them stretched across
the road. AS they approached nearer
it turned out to be monstrous rattle
snake summing himself. The men got
clubs and made an attack. For some
time he fought, striking at them +,
riously and flashing his snaky eyes an
forked tongue toward them, but he was
finally killed. 1t was ascertained that
he had twenty-five rattles and measured
six feet two inches
On Snake creek, few miles above
its mouth, an old man Of the name of
Chalker lives all alone, who is so ia
miliar with the snakes that by common
consent he is called Snake Chalker
His large farm lies along the creek, ex-
tending up on either side to the very
top of the hills. On one occasion, while
passing that way, the writer hitcbed
his horse at Chalker's gate and went in
to see him. Hanging up all around the
old-fashioned Fireplace l observed what
appeared to be dressed eels, preparing
for the table. They were exceptional
ly large Of their kind, and 1 asked
where he caught such large cells.
"Eels!'' said he. "Those are my rat
tlesnakes"
And what are you going to do with
them?"
Eat them. They are much fincr than
eels." Passing toward his back door he
said:
Come out and see what have in the
yard"
In the yard were snakes by the score
all kinds, but blacksnakes and rat
tlesnakes in great numbers. How he
CduS III CuctIs IiOW uo pun IuOlU Wucro
they we're, he explained as follows:
you see these tubs, as call them,
in which I keep them. These are hol-
low logs sawed of about ten feet long,
burned out and made smooth inside, so
the snakes can't get out. place one
end of the log or tub about five feet in
the ground. l then put the snakes
down-about twenty or thirty in each
tub-and keep them, feeding them
every day until l want to use them.
Snakes, you know, come out Of their
dens on warm, pleasant days and lie on
the rocks to sun themselves. cut a
small stick with short crotch at one
end. l approach them quietly, and
placing the crotch on the snakes neck
hold it firmly down until put a stout
pin through his lips. Then, twisting it
about so he can't open his mouth or
bite, I'LL my pockets or basket and
take them home and replenish my tubs.
When ! want a snake to eat or sell I
slip q moose over his head and bring
him up"-N. Y. Sun.