, 1891-02-19

A HAytIHn who Makes "A Business Of
Catching VenOmouE Creatures.

n hANllAh W no AAaASH ~
Catching VsnOmOuH CreAtures-
S!l IS Foman is a copper colored fellow
about Eve feet eight inches in height,
broAI shouIdered and open faced. He is a
good dresser, ard is proud Of his collar and
cuffs and belts Of ra~ttlesnAke skins. The
house in which Foman lives Is unpreten-
tious, and there is nothing about it thai
suggests il is the residence of the most IA
nous snake charmer in the world, and
that in the rear yard is one Of the finest
collections of poisonous ''creepin'" things
in America In stoutly constructed cages
are magnificent rattlesnAkes, huge moo
cAsins, the deadly zypher, and the vicious
coach whip, besides scores of less promi-
nent member Of the serpent family.
Foman Is rs much at home with these
Shiny creatures as Is a father with his chill.
dren. He handles them at will and with
the utmos confidence. The creatures do
not appear afraid Of him, yet submit in a
passive sort OF way to his manipulations.
FomAn says:
~ am a native Of Haytt, and nave been
In this country years. A few
years ago ! determined to engage exclusive
ly In the snake business. In my childhood
my parents would crafty me by permitting
me to have a rattlesnake as "a companion,
and as I grew older / became fonder OF
these reptiles, and always delighted in
making them a study. Iwould sometimes
get bit by them, but my father had a
remedy that would soOn heal the wound.
Ia 1888, while in Lee county. near the Ever
glades. I captured a snake which WAS
shipped to New York. | was paid $40 for
il, and / have been following the business
ever since
"on all rattlesnakes four feet long and
over / realize from S25 to $50 each. The
smEtier snakes 1 generally uss myself for
the manufacture OF snake oil, which will
cure any rheumatism or neuralgia in eN-
isteuce. | learned this from the Seminole
Indians Before Pablo Beach was thor.
oughly settled ! caught hundreds Of snakes
In that vicinity, but the largest and best
quality of rattlesnAkes to be found In the
country are at Fort George Island at tine
mouth of the st. Johns river The snakes
at this place are very gentle, and can be
easily tanned. | succeeded in capturing
forty four snakes there and was only bit
ten eight times. I nave secured from the
Seminole Indians a fluid that 1 use when
bitten. and with II the bite Of a rattlesuake,
or In fact any other snake. Is no more So
rious han the bite of a mosquito"
A few days ago Foman gave an exhibit
ton Of bis powers in snake catching to n
number Of New Workers. He has a small
dog trained to point" snakes. The party
proceeded TO a placs where r~attlers were
likely to be found. 1t was fully an noun
before the dog obtained a clew and began
barking; finally he dropped and pointed
his tail straight into the air. The snake
eharmer ran TO the spot, and by the use of
n mirror attached to a stick six feet long
he gradually drew the snake until within
arms reach. when he reached out and Sc
cured the reptile, not. however. without
the fanRs penetrating his right hand. He
applied his autidote, and smillngly re-
quested the reporter to take II bite" too,
which was emphatically refused. Return
ing home the snake charmer took out a
piece of red silk, shook it in front OF the
reptile. which, with its deadly faugs pen.
etrated IL. Silas then Jerked the silk
violently away, and the fangs were re-
moved.-Jacksonvllle Fla.) cor. st. Louis
Republic,