The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-17
The ahia Badly Eagle: Tuesday gloimo sbruary H. 1891
SNAKE BITES ONLY TICKLE HIM.
a Hsytian Who Makes q Business of
Catching Yeuomous Creature&

a Hsytian Who Makes q Business of
Catching venomous Creatures
Silas Foman is a copper colored fellow
about five feet eight inches in height,
bread shouldered and open faced He is a
good dresser, and IS proud Of his collar and
CUTS and belts of rattlesnake skins. The
house In which Foman lives is unpreten-
tlous, and there is nothing about 1t that
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 moe
casins, the deadly Eypher, and the vicious
/ coach whip, besides scores OF less promi-
J nent members of the serpent family.
roman Is as much at home with these
Shiny creatures as is father with his chill
dren. 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 10 his manipulations.
Foman saws:
Il am native Of Hayti, and have been
! IN this country seventeen years. A few
years ago determined to engage exclusive
Iy II the snake business. Ia my childhood
my parents would crafty me by permitting
me 10 have a rattlesnake as a companion,
and rs / 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.
In 1888. while in Lee county, near the Ever
glades, l captured u snake which was
shipped TO New York. l was paid $40 for
it, and have been following the business
ever since.
ION all rattlesnakes four feet long and
over l realize from S. 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 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. 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. | have secured from the
Seminole Indians a fluid that use when |
bitten, and with it the bite Of a rsttlesnake, |
OF III ldCI any OLueE snake, Il no more Sc I
rious than the bite of mosquito"
a few days ago Foman gave an exhibit /
tion of his powers in snake catching TO q /
number of New Workers. He has small /
dog trained to point" snakes. The party /
proceeded to a place where rattlers were /
likely 10 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
eharmer ran TO the spot, and by the use Of !
n mirror attached to a stick six feet long
be gradually drew the snake until within
arms reach, when he reached out and Sc
cured the reptile, not, however. without
the fangs penetrating his right hand He
applied his antidote, and smilingly re-
quested the reporter to take n bite" too,
which was enphatically 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 fangs pen
atrated it. Silas then jerked the silk
away, and the fangs were re-
(Fla.) cor. st. Louis
Republic