The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-09
NEW JERSEY PILOT SNAKES.
Supposed 10 no Hsrmless. But This Ono
Oliver Rise 20 q Remnrknble Story.

Gives Rise 60 n Remarkable story.
A story comes from Lambertville. N j.. that
Oliver O'Daniel. quarryman In the Goat Hill
quarries. about mile from that place. Is lying
at the point Of death. as tho result OF tho bite
OF q pilot snake on Monday afternoon. pre-
ceding story had killed him.
The second story teller, after describing
O'Danicrs agony and shocking appearance.
md saying that the regular physicians there
had oil agreed that he could not 1.-Two. his only
chance being In the weeds and shrubs Of old
Mrs. Rick. adds that O'Daniel is remarkably
cool and that he tells curious story of his meet
ing with tho snake and OF the snakes queor
actions after it had bitten him. Tho story is
OF moro than usual interest. because pilot
snakes are described by ordinary authorities
on snakesas entirely harmless Tho story says
that Mrs. Rick. the famous snake doctor OF the
county. Is working night and day with her
weeds and shrubs. which have cured mnnyothcr
victims OF the dreaded pilot snake in the past.
O'Dnniel 1t is related. is, one of the foremen
he bnS bs quarry ana al M3naay rsn mhUf inr
big blast. At o'clock in the afternoon the
blast was fired and u tremendous, amount Of
men then began to remove some OF the larger
pieces, They had sent AWAY about i've, cart
man came across an extra ira large piece. 0
away end 0'Daniel attempted TO lit the rock
bud raised about foot S5r when vi he S snddeny
iel ri stinging sensation in the third finger #
Sharp haa st S%s 'ls finger sSaon ESSS
I hNnia ), through ROY his arm made him realize
dropped the stone and yelled, In the mean
time the pnin in his nrm was becoming So SO.
around in Z, circle shouting aud yelling in
agony. In the mean time some OF the quarry
%cs s9nr run r up and Of thm Ea p%e
This. it is said. eased tho pain somewhat,
Tho men then went to where o'Danicl had
earth thcy found n female pilot snake and six
little ones. The snake WAS kissing, sputter-
rate. As The mon came M 1t suddenly grabbed
shake and dropped it lead Ills was done
way 1t Kill cl all six of tho it'll" snakes, and
then: to the utter astonishment IF the onl??pk-
gan TO bite its own body; 1t gnawed Ind, chew
Cd SaEs ot thn st1ry while tho men looked on
ming to swell He was removed To his homo
aud physicians called. but. they could do moth.
lis Oh Isnday ts he
most terrible agony, and his cries could be-
heard nilc away. During the night his arm
size. and or Tuesday his face. right side.
ana Tsnt on leE o sSsan to ruI w s
III nlEIt were Simply De-
yond the story tcller.s power OF description.
1t was when his body began to turn black that
tho doctors shook their heads and said the
man must die. But old Mrs Rick had heard
ot the case. and, armed with her old box of
weeds, she called mt the ODaniel home and
started in otrrat the sufferer. She has done
him lot of good. but it is doubtful whether
she can bring him around. In the mean time
nobody but his wife and Mrs. Rick arc per-
mitted to see him
The pilot snakes in this neighborhood. it is
added. are increasing in number every day.
md unless something is done to cXtorminate
them they promise to do a lot Of damage On
account OF their smallness they are partcu-
larly dangerous. as they can hardly be
seen i'll the grass and among the rocks.
Their bite is fatal in nine cases
with which their poison spreads through tho
system. the story says. and the utter inability
of medical men to handle it, Auntv Rick Is an
d-timer in regard to snake bites. and has
cured any number Of people who have been
given ny by the doctors. Several months ago
Amos Hart of l.ambertville was bitten hy
pilot: Instead OF going to a physician
he went right to Aunty Rick's. and in week
he was well and around; although unable to
once bitten herself. and although her life was
despaired Of she refused to allow anybody to
come near her. but treated herself, and in a
short time was well and around.
The snake which bit O'Daniel was about n
foot and a half long. The uuarrymcn have
hung 1t W on II tree in tho roadway. whore it
has been inspected by hundreds Of people. 1t
is covered with ragged wounds and cuts where
1t bit itscl II aftor biting O'Danicl.
There does not appear room for much doubt
that ODaniel was bitten by some kind OF a
snake.