The Minneapolis observer., 1890-09-06
oalLos SNAKE FARM.
A specuiatcr WIN Doys Rattters by the
round and Fattens Them.

4. Il, Childs has monopoly of snake
cultivation and the production of ratio.
snake oil in Arkansas. In which State Is
located what Is we'll known through
that country as the Ghilds' Snake Far l.
This peculiar and unenvied enterpriss
Is situated in tho suburbs of this little
village, in the northeastern part oi the
State, where snakes, especially rattlers,
are found in abundance.
Tho writer met by accident Mr..
Childs, who willingly gave his snake.
hunting experience in tho swamps OF
Northern Arkansas
The manner In which the rattlesnakes
arc caught and handled is enough 10
make cold chills run over persons who
are timid. Twenty-Five cents TO one dol
lar per pound for rattlosnakos. however
makes IL an indueement for the natives,
who live near good market, Go hunt
and catch rhttlors for livelihood, and
here IL how they do Il;
Two men In their search for profit In
tho snake industry go together. One Of
thom carries a long forked polo, or cane,
and when snake IL found this pole Is
which Ia done by pressing the pole
down upon the snake just back OF tho
head. The othor snake hunter carries
strong cord. which Ia luoped over tho
head OF the poisonous prey and Ia then
used for carrying the Eaptilo to market
(which, however, is done without injury
to the snakel. Other hunters usc the
pole In tho way described, but instead
OF bringing their captives to market by
means of tho string they use box which
has sliding lid, and which can be-
operated with ease aud out of roach OF
the coopcd-up rattler
When tho snake eatchers arrive al tho
residence of MIR Childs. the latter In n
eareless-lilc manner. takcs the matter
In hand. and u box of rattlrrs, for
instance, is brought to him, he removes
the lid of tho box and takes the snake
! twild from the woodsl out just m one
would reach In for and take hold OF a
rabbit The rather, as soon as the top
OF his Gage In taten of. sets up con.
ttnuous rattle and hissca fearfully. Mr..
Childs, however, pays no attention Ia
this little racket, but simply takes the
snake Co his farm, weighs 10, pays the
catcher, and is then ready for repeti'
tlon OF tho act A good big rationale
will weigh from six Ia ton pounds. and
II fat will no worth nearly or quito NJ
many dollars.
Tho size of tho snake farm In about
hNIt an acre, with tightly closed pen
In It's contor, which Ia the abiding place
Of tho snalSos. Hero the ugly reptiles
are kept and fattened, and whom they
are ready to be put under procesa iol
the production Of oil, tho reptiles heads
arc neatly chopped of, and by means o
string are tied, head upward, 10 th,
side OF the pen whore tho sun Is bright
est The heat OF Tho sun, Ii appears
causes the oil Of the snakes to drip out
and IL il caught In receptacle and lait
asid aside To be Nubseq sold Al
from sibo 10 81 an ounce or from $50 t,
$50 pint.
Mr.. ChildH ia said to be tho dnl,
genuine producer Of rattlnsnake oil II
this country. When quito young h,
herded In Dakota, and here IL was tha
no formed the friendship Of rattlesnakei
a friendship which, hc Htates hAi
grown, until now no will pick up
rattler wild from his den with aA little
fright as ho gathers the innoocnt rabbits
and toads which no constantly feeds II
his captivns.
While the writer was viewing fwlti
foslinR of roluctaneel tho snakery
Mr. Chiids was asked N certain Anak,
could swallow tho young rabbit whIcl
was near H., whereupon tho aHable man
aRef OF tho snake farm induced th,
snake 10 try tho capacity OF It's throat
which 10 did 10 the rabbits misfortune
tho rattler putting itself on the outside
OF bunny with apparent ease.
Mr.. Child's fay0rite time for capturint
snakes IL in the fall of tho year n,
manages to Ind some small creek whief
flows out Of the highlands, Hero b,
watches for and follows up the first rat
tier that leaves the lowlands for winter
quarters In the highlands. In this man
ner tho den II easily found. A box tray
ia then set In tho ddn capable Of holding
htty large snakes A snake trap is Rbou
four feet square, In one end Of tbs boz
las hole large enough IL admit ono iarg,
rattlesnako. This opening IL covered
with block hung on n leather hinge or
tho outside of the boz. Then the bon
IL buried at the mouth Of tho den, and
In due time the snakes enter and ara en-
trapped and ready 10 be handled for The
production Of oil.
The skin OF Rood-slzod rattlcsnAks
will bring In the market from W 70 aS-
owing, Of course. 10 how we'll IL has beor
preserved. 4 den contains all this wal
from ten to htty rattlers. and ottef
more, Harrisburg ARK. Letter.
4