The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-24
WIS BITTEN By his PET.
A Frenchman Near san Diego Reck-
lessly Courts Death
From the San Francisoo Examiner.

lessly Courts Death
From the San FrGncisoo Examiner.
Alfred Due. Ffenchman, has been liv-
| ing in a small cabin on the Schnell ranch,
two miles north Of Tia Juana and twelve
miles south Of San Diego, tor about a year.
He died recently under distressing circum-
stances.
Due was a peculiar sort Of man in many
ways, his browning popularity being an
unnatural fascination for wild and danger
/ Gus animals, snakes being his especial favor
ties. He would capture wolves, bears.
| coyotes and other wild beasts, aud in short
time would have them tanned into docIlity.
His neighbors say that for the past SIX
months he has never been without one or
more snakes in his cabin. Blacksnakes
and copperheads made their home under his
house, and he would stop at all times in the
road or field TO capture and cares a snake
of any kind.
A REFRACTORY REPTILE
For about two weeks he has had G large
RATHER in the cabin, but as the reptile was
not of the trustworthy family he reluct-
antly placed it in an empty oil can, where
it lived on lizards and toads furnished by
| its master.
For three days past the snake refused TO
either eat or drink, but Due said to visitor
that he would bring him around all right in
time. "Rattlesnakes,n said he, don't eat
very much during the winter months, for
they live in a comatose state under the
ground" Toe RATHER bit at Due several
times in the presence of a young man
named Ira Cresswell, but the Frenchman
only laughed heartily when the poisonous
fangs had barely missed their deadly aim.
TOYING WITH DEATH.
Due was in the habit Of carrying the snake
in his arms across the line into Mexico
| During these trips the reptiles head was en-
cased in a sock. Due would gather a crowd
around him, and removing the sock would
harness the snake he had in an improvised
halter, so as to prevent the its mouth from
opening, and in this condition the RATHER
would crawl around his body, legs. arms
and neck. He had only to come in sight of
Mexican or Indian when he would be
| given clear field. They named him Loco
Hombre," and were afraid to approach
| within ten feet of him. Young Cresswell
says that Due considered the flesh of a rat
tlesnake par excellence, and had often seen
him preparing the choice species of RATHER
for what Duo denominated Nee grand
banquet"
CRAZY ANTICS
| A few days ago Due was experimenting
| with a chicken by administering chloroform
and then sucking the fumes from ltsmouth.
He would inhale it himself aud blow it into
| the chickens mouth. Due went to sleep
before the fowl did, and came near never
waking up again.
| Late in the afternoon he was sitting out
side the door playing with the rattler. He
| had removed the bride to show how tame
| it had become, and the snake was lying in
his lap, his right hand closed loosely around
its body just back of the head. Suddenly
the snake began writing about, and finally
freed its Head by slipping its entire body
| through.
1t then formed itself into a curl and like
a fash Of lightning buried its deadly fangs
deep into the flesh Of Dues right hand. He
| did not even put the snake from him, but
continued to fondle and caress it, tai ing in
a pleasant-sounding manner in French.
Presently Cresswell grabbed the snake by
the tail and swung its head against the
| ground, killing it. Due became enraged
and told the young man never to come to
his house again. The man then left. but
about 10 o'clock returned with physician
and several other neighbors.
FRIGHTFUL TO SEE.
Due was sitting on an old-fashioned bed
nursing his hand, which was sweled to
thrice its natural size. He appeared out of
bis mind and continued to rock back and
forth as q nurse would soothe a babe to
sleep. His tongue protruded with a jerky
motion and saliva ran from the corners OF
| his mouth. He talked incoherently, and
when pressed to swallow some medicine he
dashed the cup from him with the wounded
| hand.
By II o'clock the swelling had extended
| to his shoulder, aud his face took on an
ashen hue. Some time after midnight he
began to rave in delirium, and at one time
ran out the door. but fell prone on his face
He ground his tongue into gashes and
strings. and at times would yell like a
! demon. He grabbed hold OF the physicians
coat sleeve with his teeth and held on for
ten minutes, necessitating the removal of
the coat It finally became necessary to
strap him to the four bedposts.
Lying on his back in this condition he re-
manned until be died.
THEY ARE MOVING PLANTS.