The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-30
HIS 10000 SNAKES.
A Tennessee Man Who Raises
RattIers for Profit.
CLEARS $4,000 A YEAR.
I" snaIxy George" who Follows the Od-
dest Occupation Ever Taken Up by a
Human Being.

Probably the oldest occupation ever fol-
lowed by man is that of an old Tennessean
who lives about three miles north of
Gainesville, Ca, in the Ozark mountains.
1t is George Jaynes, or, as he is known in
this neighborhood "Snaky George"
Jaynes came here from the mountains of
Tennessee several years ago and followed
the occupation of hunting for living. He
never got very much ahead, but managed
to.eke out a good living for himself by the
sale of game and skins He brought with
him from his old home the art OF making
snake oil, and sold several pints during
each season TO the various druggists in
this part OF the state, and always got a
good price for IL, as it was of an excellent
quality.
The rocks ofthe Ozark mountains abound
with rattlesnakes, and it was not long be-
fore Jaynes saw that If he went AT 1t right
he had bonanza in the business. He
looked about and found a piece of rocky
land on the south side of the mountain
which was utterly worthless so Var as agri-
culture was concerned. He entered this land
as "A homestead, and began improving it in
a most peculiar way. Instead OF clearing
off the rocks, he tried to get more there,
and soon he had built q veritable snakes
retreat.
The hillside was honeycombed with holes,
and everything that a snake could desire
to make life a pleasure was added to the
spot. While he had entered 100 acres, he
only utilized about forty Of them. He
built house of stone, but cemented It
thoroughly inside and out, for. while he
made living off of snakes, he did not care
&c have too close companionship with
them.
Having arranged his farm to his salts
faction, he set about getting inhabitants
for the place. In this he experienced little
trouble, for the hills aasunded with the
reptiles, and he knew how to catch and
handle them without danger. His daily
excursions were taken with the view of
bringing home new resident for his farm,
and his live stock increased with wonder
full speed. About four years ago he COM
pleted his work of stocking his place, and
now he is reaping the benefit OF his acu-
men. Snakes are everywhere on the place.
On warm day rattlesnakes of all sizes
and conditions are seen lying around in
profusion or crawling over the rocks.
squirming and twisting in heaps, while
the deadly whirr Of the rattles makes mu-
sic which strikes terror TO the heart of one
unaccustomed to the situation. Above all
is that terribly nauseating odor which fills
the whole air and drives away any one not
accustomed to such an offensive scent.
'Snaky George" estimates that there
are 10000 full grown rattlesnakes on the
place, and says that he kills an average of
1000 every season. He only kills them
during the months of September and Oc-
tobcr, for then they are the fattest and are
full of oil. They are getting ready to go
into winter quarters and are in prime con-
ditlon. His method of catching them is
simple. He has fed them in a certain
cleared spot ever since they have been on
the place, and they now come there reg
ularly
When he wants TO begin work he stands
on an elevated rock near the place, and
with slip moose of wire catches as many
as he can use and kills them. He then
takes the bodies to his house, where he
throws them into caldron and renders
out the oil. This he packs in heavy bottles
and ships to various wholesale druggists
over the country, it being used in the prep
aration of various lniments.
One good sized rattler will make pint
Of OIL and this brings 81. so or nets Jaynes
about dollar after all expenses of render
ing, bottling and shipping are paid.-Cor.
Cincinnati Enquirer.