Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-10-29
4 QUEER COLLECTION
Here's Your Chance to Lay Ia a ~,
&C snakes.

Here's Your Chance to Lay Ia a sta.,.
&C Snakes.
Would the gentleman like 10 % i,
tho cage where the snakes are2
No; the gentlemanly reporter ~.
the Philadelphia Record was perfect
~ satisfied TO Wow them through ~
glass against which they stuck thsls
ugly forked tongues and Bit venom.
ously.
II was No 5ll North Second stree,
whore the courtesy was extended Ana
as courteously declined. Richard {
ellis known all over tho country i.
pecially among showmen. as a snske.
tanner extended tho invitation wbua
the gentleman who quietly but Rrmlv
declined was Record reporter
Although known far and vida
among circus people MIR CHI. NM
his unique establishment arc but M.
Ito known 10 the average run Of peo.
pie. Tie Is the only member OF N.
profession Ia Philadelphia and NV
OF but very few who control M
snake.tamins business in the rnltad
states. Born and raised near M
boundary limo between Pike and
Monroe counties where SNAKES
are rs thick Us hucklebcrrles he al,
been their copstant companion sisee
boyhood and Ike HiawAtha ~
learned their secrets ANY showmnB
viii tell you that what Dick Cln.
doesn't know about snakes isn't worth
knowing.
The front d his establishment an
Second street Is devoted 70 a trade n
tobacco aud cigars but Il Is Ia the
rear where the snake business i con.
Quoted, that the proprietor spends most
o. his time. Here no less than ninety
snakes arc confined principally ,uy,le
heads and king snakes, Both are az
the constructor family The former
came from the Isle Of Pines and ,hs
West Indies and the laller being
species " the common blacksnake
are shipped from ali pats o! he
country, Mr ellis pays small price
for these harnesses" them and sells
them to tho sbowmen
After the reporters refusal 10 enter
the cage with tho turtle heads M.
ellis reached his hand Ia and clutch.
Ing ono Of the largest in his naked
hard drew this kissing reptile out INTO
the room And although the saako
tW!ned Itself about his body unl Kept
up lis continual kissing 10 dldnt 10.
pear 70 mind Ia tho least. but slroked
rs shlnniug hend and spoke sonthinaly
10 Il much as q mother would sneak
TO irsiiul child
DO ever got blttcn?" mnsea he
tanner ~ ho wound the reptile about
ht. neck. Oh yea sometimes. bat
never by tho poisonous snaknk
have secret process with them
Tho turtle heads and the king snakcs
are perfectly harmless ana | doat
mind their bites any moro than
would a mosquito bite hot they soon
got used 70 briag handled and quickly
become docilc ticrc Richie IS
called 10 his littlo boy. a lad 81 about
NJ bring In boS OF those king
snakes and pick out tho largest :"
so Kiraio disappeared. quickly 10
turning with q wooden box filled with
squirming snakes With him came
his little sister tot Of not moro
than , years with nu enormous snake
coilea about her arms aud darling rs
iorked tongue about her face Tho
little one did not seem 10 mind Il ii
the lcasL a TACT she rather seemed
10 enjoy Il and laughed when the
visitor drow neryously away from
the wicked littln hcAd % the snake.
You see remarked Mr. ellis
With touch 81 pride even my chill.
drcn have no fear Of them. aud handle
thcm ns freely as do nyseIt They
arc perfectly harmless There. lake
this fellow IN your hand Le wont
hurt you
But again tho visitor domons.r rated
that discretion was tho better part Of
valor and declined. Tho tanner vas
evidently hurt by this evident lack Of
confidence and strokcd the sleek
sides OF lhs pets vigorously.