Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-04
WILD SNAKES IN BARE HANDS.
How Don Allen and Wife Catch and
Handle venoinOus Reptiles.

rollton, IL q small green houseboat lying
the flag OF Spain. Nothing about the YES
sci would indicate that II was In any
wise different from any other boat OF It's
kind floating on the surface of the yellow
Mississippi. Appearances are sometimes
decciving, and so they are In this case.
Aboard of the little green houseboat
dwels Senior Don Allen and his wife. the
latter best known as Laura Lee the
Mexican snake queen. For many years
past the couple have been engaged In the
dangerous vocation of capturing snakes,
and either converting them into oil or
making pets OF the reptiles and then dis
posing OF them to shows and museums.
Upon invitation of Mr.. Allen a reporter
crossed the high levee, and walking gin
gerly over the ng-plank, entered the
floating residence of the serpent charmers.
and. seated upon the top of a high stool.
listened to an interesting and graphic
description Of snakes I'm general and upon
the means and methods pursued by Senior
Allen and his wife in making captives
and pets of these reptiles. Mr.. Allen and
his wife sell the snakes 10 universities
and to manufacturers for their skins.
This is their business and they make
living by IT,
Mr.. Allen prefaced his remarks by
ayihg that of all the snakes to be found
in the United States but three Of the
families of the reptiles could properly be
classed as deadly" yet" said the
catcher, these families comprise about
itirty-two species, distributed as follows:
Rattlesnakes. Z: cotton mouths, s; copper
heads. II: the two latter being moccasins
an6 jewellers IN the swanps and low
places. OF course. there are many snakes
v hich possess the power Of injecting e.
ritating roisOns into the blood OF the per-
sCrs they bite, but the wound, while
painful. is not fatal Now, i have been
bitten eight times by snakes belonging TO
the classes or families mentioned; yet,
while these reptiles are extremely dan
gerous to life. l am here yet. i don't
profess to consider the matter of being hit
ten by a RATHER or a cotton-mouth an
event to be treated lightly, for have seen
too many persons die from this cause.
vet | have firm faith and belief In the
curative properties of the remedies / use;
faith engendered by dear experience. l
am willing for a monetary consideration
10 let any YenomOus snake in the country
thrust its fangs into my flesh
When was the last time you were
bitten?'
Some months ago. UP the river. I had
been handling d batch of snakes, ana
when | finished ! placed them in their
box. One OF the large rattlers raised his
head. and as l thrust him down, why
"a quick as a flash he drew back his
head. and before | could withdraw my
hand he had pierced the back with <oth
fangs. the teeth going ia UP to the gums.
THAT was bad bite" said the "don,'
'and / suffered greatly for several hours.
NV wife was present at the time, ana
when the thing occurred she grasped my
hand, and placing the wounded part IN
her mouth sucked portion OF the venom
therefrom."
"Were YOU ever b.tten?" queried the
renorter. turning to Mrs. Allen, who, by
the way, Is an extremely intelligent ana
comely woman. -,
"Only once" answered the lady. u
had been accustomed for many years 10
handle snakes. and l have never had the
slightest fer. Yet / am always cdreiul
not to anger the reptiles or treat them
any way but gently.
Not so very long ago number of gen.
tlemen came TO the boat and requested
me to show them my pets. | was glad
10 do so. and exhibited them for snort
time dwelling upon their virtues ana
praising their intelligence. | always tram
one snake. at least, to kiss me wheh
tell ii to. and the snake on this OCCASION
was a cottcn-mouth. l told 1t to KISS me-
which II did, but suddenly d1rted ts
head against my face. not In love- tel
YOU. for its fangs struck my nose pierre
ing the cartilage clear into the Hostrii'
causing II to bleed inside.
Il called to my husband that was
bitten, and he fastened to apply The rene
dies In ten minutes, however my eyes
were closed and face badly swollen. DOC
tors were sent for. but my husband did
all the doctoring, and. although "aS
very sick. ! pulled through.
"The popularity OF the poisons' chimed
in the don. lis that the venom OF "a rat
tlesnake acts on the blood; that OF inc
copperhead on the nervous system. ana
the poison of the cotton-mouth paraiyZes
the nerve centres and the heart.
"AIy plan of capture Is extremely simple.
All snakes Just before they spring away
upon the approach OF man. hesitate lot
moment. and then lie perfectly SIN.
This is my opportunity, and l grasp IT,
and nine times out of ten MS shahesh'l'
as well Practice makes perfect, ana
have been at il a long time. a ratNe-
snake when pursued coils. ana is reau! 10
defend himself flip a stone or small
niece of stick at him; he uncoils, ana
starts of, but before he can again col
| have him back of the neck.
mo. 1 use no stica. nothing but my
hands.
You may laugh. too. when l tell you
that our snake lore teaches us not 10
hunt when the wind Is In the northwest
II we do. We find no snakes. Again.
the signs OF the zodiac govern. When the
fishes are in the ascendant We ma SNAKES
and lots of them. The principal seasons
of the year for us are spring ana iali'
the snakes are then fat, and produce lois
of oil
And now that we have spoken so
much about snakes. I'll show you some,
said Mrs. Allen.
Suiting the action to the word. she
opened box lying near, and thrustng
her hand into the aperture, brought OUT
several king snakes.
.These are perfectly harmless" said the
lady, .'and, being almost ready to shed
their skins. are nearly blind"
After letting the reptiles squirm about
ard thrust their black tongues against
her face and neck, she unwound their
feds from about her and placed them IN
,i.elr box. "These are not quite so pretty
ar innocent" Mrs. Allen rem arke1 as
she drew back the cover OF another box
a,e exposed to the gaze of the reporter
a mass of slug gish. rusty. squirEiing
:, axes. with tongues rapidly sorkinS ana
l,ads swinging TO and fro. May OF their
,ves were blue and blind, like those OF
ling snakes. they, too. being about 10
6rop their skin.
"uere is a water python" picking up
4, large. h.deous monster, who curved his
rsly neck and looked into her face. as II
,sking What nextY' In moment more
the lady had hcr hands filled with snakes.
which did not seem TO mind 1t In the Il asst.
pythons. singing edders. yellow-mouihed
moccasins, and dozen other varieties
of reptiles were hanging on her arms,
their heads darling hither ard thither.
ewes beady. and in all a hideCus lot OF
reptiles. 90,
You need not fear" said Mrs. Allen,
"tbey won't get at ycu.'
"That may be all right" answered the
scribe, but he preferred not to take any
cfsncts.
Allen unlocked the corner Of another box
ara said softly: