News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-09-04
TERMS S1.5O.
RATTLERS ON BLUE TOP.
A FARMER WHO CATCHES THEM AM
KEEPS THEM IN HOLLOW LOGS

A FARMER WHO CATCHES THEM AND
KEEPS THEM IN HOLLOW LOGS.
The Susquehanna river rises in CEN
trail New York and flowing southwark
enters the northwestern corner of Penn
sylvania, near Great Bend, Susque-
hanna county, and taking westerly
course follows closely the boundary
line of the two states. Ranges of hills,
rising almost to the dignity of mount
aims, skirt its banks on either side and
present rough, ragged and rocky sur
face, so that cultivation is almost out
of the question; but wild and hilly and
barren as it was in many parts, the
pioneers of the country, intent on Sc
curing homes and farms and a living
somewhere in that region, found here
and there a valley and a running
stream and fiat place where they
could plant o house and clear up few
acres of land for farming.
Among those streams is one named
| Snake creek, which, rising in beauti-
full lake near Montrose, meanders
through valley and finds its way into
the Susquehanna about twelve miles
from the lake in which it rises This
creek was so named by the early settlers
because of the fact that. while bears
and wolves and other ferocious beasts
were very Numerous in all that region,
snakes were conspicuously more numer-
Gus. One of the highest hills, whose
head rises well up into the sky, 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
today, nearly as plentiful as the berries,
and in the season of ripe berries he is
exceedingly restive and hostile to all
| intruders.
| On Snake creek. few miles above
its mouth, an old man of the name of
Chalker lives all alone, who is so familiar
with the snakes that by common con-
sent he is called Snake Chalker. His
large farm lies along the creek, extend
ing up either side to the very top of the
hills. On one occasion, while passing
that way, the writer hitched his horse
at his gate and went in to see him.
Hanging up all around the old fash
ioned fireplace l observed what ap-
| peared to be dressed eels preparing for
the table They were exceptionally
large of the kind, and asked where he
caught such large eels.
''EeIs2'' said he. 'Those are my rat
| tlesnakes."
And what are you going to do with
| them?"
''Eat them. They are much finer
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
caught them, how he put them where
they were, he explained as follows:
''You see these tubs, as l call them,
in which keep them2 These are hol-
low logs sawed off about ten feet,
burned out and made smooth inside, SO
the snakes can't get out. Iplace 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
want to use them. Snakes, you know,
come out of their dens on warm, pleas
ant days and lie on the rocks to sun
themselves. cut small stick with a
short crotch at one end. l approach
them quietly, and placing the crotch
on the snakes neck hold it firmly down
until put stout pin through his lips.
Then twisting it about so he can't open
his mouth or bite fill my pockets or
a basket and take them home and re-
plenish my tubs When want snake
to eat or sell l slip moose over his
head and bring him up."-New York
| Sun.