Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-13
THEY. TRAIN SNAKES.
HOW DON ALLEN AND HIS WIFE HAM
DIE THE REPTILES.


Sights That Were Enough to Make Ones
Flesh "Crawl."
Moored at tho river bank. facing Car
sollton, is a small green houseboat, flying
the flag of Spain. Nothing about the yes
sci would indicate that it was in any wise
different from any other boat of its kind
floating on the surface of the yellow Mis-
sissippi. Appearances are sometimes de-
ceiving, and so they are in this case.
Aboard of the little green houseboat dwells
Senior Don Allen and his wife, the latter
best known as Laura Lee, the Mexican
make queen. For many years past the
touple have been engaged in the danger
Gus vocation Of capturing snakes and either
converting them into oil or making pets
Of the reptiles and then disposing OF them
to shows and museums.
Upon invitation of Mr.. Allen a reporter
crossed the high levee, and walking gin
gerly over the gangplank entered the float
ing residence Of the serpent charmers, and
seated upon the top of high stool listen
ed to an interesting and graphic descrip-
ton of snakes in general and upon the
means and methods pursued by Senior
Allen and his wife in making captiyes
and pets of these reptiles Mr.. Allen and
his wife sell the snakes to universities and
to manufacturers for their skins. This is
their business, and they make q living by
it.
Mr. Alien prefaced his remarks by say
ing 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 80 species,
distributed as follows: Rattlesnake, z;
cottonmouths, s; copperheads, II, the two
latter being moccasins and jewellers in
swamps and low places. OF course there
are many snakes which possess the power
of injecting irritating poisons into the
blood of the persons they bite, but the
wound, while painful, is not fatal. Now,
! have been bitten eight times by snakes
belonging to the classes or families men,
toned Yet, while these reptiles are OK
tremely dangerous to life, I am here yet.
l don't profess to consider the matter of
being bitten by a rattler or a cottonmouth
an event to be treated lightly, for l have
seen too many persons die from this cause.
'Some months ago up the river l had
been handling batch of snakes, and
when finished placed them in their box.
One of the large rattlers raised his head,
and as thrust him down, why, as quick
as flash, he drew back his head, and be-
fore 1 could withdraw my hand he had
pierced the back with both fangs, the teeth
going in up to the gums.
THAT was bad bite" said the don,
land suffered greatly for several hours.
My wife was present at the time, and when
the thing occurred she grasped my hand,
and placing tho wounded part in her
mouth sucked portion of the venom
therefrom."
Were you ever bitten?' queried the re-
porter, turning to Mrs. Allen, who, by
the way, is an extremely intelligent and
comely woman.
"Only once" answered the lady. Il
have been accustomed for many years to
handle snakes, and l have never had the
slightest fear. Yet l am always careful
not to anger the reptiles or treat them
any way but gently.
Not so very long ago a number of
gentlemen came to the boat and requested
me to show them my pets. WAS glad to
do so and exhibited them for short time,
dwelling upon their virtues and praising
their intelligence. Railways train one snake
the snake G., this occasion was cotton
mouth told il to kiss me, which it did,
but it suddenly darted its head against my
face, not in love, tell you, for it's fangs
struck my nose, piercing the cartilage
clear into the nostrils, causing it to bleed
inside.
II called to my husband that was Bit
ten, and he FASTENED to apply the RENE
y, r. nXrnS
were closed ard face badly swollen. Doc
all the doctoring, and, although l was
very sick, pulled through"
1.-The popularity of the poisons," chimed
in the don, lis that the venom of rattle
snake acts on the blood, that of the cop
pcrhead on the nervous system, and the
poison of the cottonmouth paralyzes the
nerve centers and the heart.
my plan of capture is extremely sim
pie All snakes, just before they spring
away upon the approach of man, hesitate
for moment and lie perfectly still. This
is my opportunity, and grasp it, and nine
times out of ten his snakeship as well.
Practice makes perfect, and have been
at it long time A rattlesnake when
pursued coils and is ready to defend him
bcll. UP Stbllc VI PiSSp VI SWIM
at him. He uncoils and starts off, but be-
fore he can again coil have him back of
the neck.
''No, use no stick. Nothing but my
hands.
You may laugh, too, when tell you
that our snake lore teaches us not to hunt
when the wird is in the northwest If
we do, we find no snakes. Again, the signs
of the zodiac govern When the fishes are
in the ascendant, we find snakes, and lots
of them. The principal seasons of the
year for us arc spring and fall. The snakes
are then fat and produce lots of oil.
"And now that we have spoken so
much about snakes I'll show you some"
said Mrs. Allen.
SuitiDg the action to the word she open
ed box lying near, and thrusting her
hand into the aperture brought out sew
eral kingsnakes.
"These are perfectly harmless, " said the
lady, land being almost ready to shed
their skins are nearly blind.
After letting the reptiles squirm about
and thrust their black tongues against
her face and neck she unwound their folds
from about her and placed them in their
box ''These are not quite SO pretty or
MrS Allan remarked 40 she