New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
DANGEROUS PETS TO PLAY WITH.
TWO FOOLHARDY DELAWARE COUNTY MEN WHO
FILLED THEIR SYSTEMS WITH RATTLE
SNAKE POISON AND YET RECOVERED

TWO FOOLHARDf DELAWARE COUNTY MEN WHO
FILLED THEIR SYSTEMS WITH RATTLE
SNAKE POISON AND YET RECOVERED.
Hancock n. Y. Aug. lo.-Within the last week
two Hancock men have been bitten by rattesnakes
and both are alive yet. On Sunday Joseph Donohue
brought to this village two snakes for James
Thomas. who wanted them to ship to New-York
museum. and had standing offer OF 81 each
for all brought him. Every few days Of late he
has turned into Thomas a rather On Sunday he
bet A plug Of tobacco against potation Of rye
whskey that he could handle any of Thomas
snakes bdrehanded without being bitten. crowd
OF oilers went around behind Thomas's bottling
establishment to see the wager won. The snakes
were lying lazy in the bottom of a box with
sieve top Donohue thrust his in gently and
picking up fat one lifted 1t The snake did
not offer to bite him.
you can't pick that black fellow in the corner
of the box out like that" said Marvin Knight, one
OF the bystanders.
Donohue put the fat snake back and picked up
the reptile referred TO- There was nothing lazy
about this lie squlrned. and Donohues tight
enng grasp enraged him. Quick flash he
struck his fangs into Donohue's right hand. The
crowd sprang back Donohue lifted him and
dashed him back into the box.
Suck out the poison" said one. Donohue
followed proffered advice but instead Of spit
ting out the poisoned blood swallowed 1t. In few
minutes ne taken with violent cramps In the
stomach. chest and arms. and was nearly crazy
with pain. For an antidote he drank all the whis-
key that would stay on his stomach. Then he went
to bed and in the course of day or two recovered
almost entirely
John Eaton, a young OF about twenty-four
was the next victim. He worked for Thomas and
grew accustomed TO being around the snakes
that they had terrors for him. Donohue brought
in fresh snake Thursday morning, and Eaton
started to pick 1t up.
haf'o fha
ugllest snake | ever across. He'll bite you "
II can put him around my neck, the same as
do the others" said Eaton. and with that ne picked
up the newest crotalus and dropped II around his
shoulders Eaton had his hand close to the snakes
neck. but the reptile suddenly slipped its head
through his grasp. AMI there cry Of horror
from the half-dozen men standing around. with
its head loose the venomous creature sounded It's
rattle and lodged two or three times the fright
ened young tried to shake II off Suddenly 1t
struck Eatons hand and he screamed with pain.
Grasping the reptile he threw 1t to the ground and
stepped IT,
Instead Of attempting to suck out the poison.
Eaton foolshly wrapped his hand In his handker-
chief and to Becks Hotel. where he sat for
an hour or two, deaf 10 ALL entreates to do some
thing for his wound DR.. J. b. Drake was called
in just as Eaton showed signs OF commissions and
did what he could for him. Old John Geer. a snake
tanner. living Long Eddy. sixteen miles down the
Erie summoned by Telegraph, out ne was SICK
and his remedy by DR. Stearns. who reached
town six hours after Eaton had been bitten BY
this time his arm and hand swollen to three
times their normal size. and his arms and breast
were covered with notifies similar to those on the
snakes body. He became unconscious and remained
for several hours. Geer's remedy Is leaves OF
the spike-leaved violet. common along the Delaware
River. Dr. Stearns had Eaton chew the leaves, and
he made tea Of them and had him drink 1t hot:
More of the leaves were bound tightly around
Eaton's arm below the elbow 10 intercept the flow
OF blood as much possible. Eaton's condition Is
improving and he will probably recover.
In Long Eddy II Is maintained that John Geer's
remedy for rattlesnake bites has never failed or a
cure. Willie Peak ten year old boy OF Long Eddy,
bitten the leg few days ago. and Old
Johns violet leaves cured him in a day. Geer got
the remedy from his grandfather to whom II was
given by a Delaware Indian Geer saw a light be-
tween rattlesnakes once he says. and both were
badly bitten. He watched their movements and saw
them awl lunches OF spke-leaved violets, which
they II seemed TO revive them and they
crawled away n lively before the battle. Ceer
says the Indians discovered the remedy In this
wa