The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-23
SNAKE BITES ONLY TICKLE Hit
A Haytian Who Makes Busin ess of
Catching Veuomou Creatures.

A Haytian Who Makes Busin ess of
Catching Veuomous Creatures.
From the 81. Louis Republic.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 11.-At No.
206 West State street, this city, resides
Silas Foman. copper-colored fellow about
five feet eight incles in height, broad
shouldered and open faced. He is a good
dresser and is proud of his collar and cuffs
and belts of rattlesnake skins The house
in which Foman lives is unpretentious, and
there Is nothing about it that suggests it is
the residence of the most famous snake
charmer in the world. and that in the rear
yard Is one of the finest collections of
poisonous ''creepin'n things in Amer
ica In stoutly constructed cages
are magnificent ratt.es axes, huge
moccasins, the deadly zephyr and the vici-
Gus coachwhip, besides scores of less promi-
nent members of the serpent family. Foman
is az much at home with these shiny crea-
lures as is a father with his children. He
handles them at will and with the utmost
confidence. The creatures do not appear
afraid of him yet submit in a passive sort
of way to his manipulations. Yesterday
Foman left for the Everglades, where he
proposes TO secure collection Of snakes for
the worlds fair that will surpass in num-
anything that the nworld has ever known.
Foman says: I'd 81
II am a native of Hayti, and have been
in this country seventeen years. A few
years ago l determined to engage exclu-
sively in the snake business In my child
hood my parents would crafty me by per-
hitting me to have rattlesnake as a CONS
panion, and as l grew older became fonder
of these reptiles, and always delighted in
making than a Study I mnt,1A
get bit by them, but my father had a
remedy that won d soon heal the wound.
In 1883, while in Lee county, near the
Everglades, l captured a snake which was
shipped to New York. was paid $40 for
it, and l have been following the business
ever since, On all rattlesnakes four feet
long and over l realize from $25 to $50 each.
The smaller snakes generally use myself
for the manufacture of snake oil, which will
cure any rheumatism or neuralgia in ex-
istence. | learned this from the Seminole
Indians. Before Pablo Beach was thor
oughly settled l 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 the mouth of the st.
Johns river. 4he snakes at this place are
very gentle, and can be easily tanned. Last
month succeeded in capturing forty-four
snakes there and was only bitten eight
times. have secured from the Seminole
Indians fluid that | use when bitten, and
with 1t the bite of rattlesnake, or in fact
any other snake, is no more serious than the
bite of mosquito
A few days ago Foman gave an exhibit
ton of his powers in snake catching to a
number of New Workers. He has a small
dog trained to s'point" snakes. The party
proceeded to a place where rattlers were
likely to be found 1t was fully an hour
before the dog obtained clew and began
barking. Finally he dropped and pointed
his tail straight into the air. The snake
charmer ran to the spot, and by the use
OF mirror attached TO a stick
six feet long he gradually drew the
snake until within arms reach, when
he reached out and secured the reptile, not,
however, without the fangs penetrating his
right hand, He applied his antidote, and
smihngly requested the reporter to take a
bite" too, which was emphatically refused.
Returni G home the snake cbarmer took out
piece of red silk, shook it in front of the
reptile. which, with its deadly fangs, pene-
trated it. Silas then jerked the silk violently
away, and the fangs were removed.
THE rattlesnake," continued the snake
charmer, "sheds its skin twice year, and
at that time becomes perfectly blind, is
helpless, and is easily captured At this
stage they are assisted by a nurse or pilot.
who guards and protects them. This guard
is the young king snake. The king snake
however, is the first enemy the rattlesnake
has, and can easily kill it in combat. l
have seen rattlesnakes fleeing from the old
king snake to the young king snake for
protection"