The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
RArrLrns AND THF Wr4rHEn.
A California Theory That They won't Bite
Whom There Is TO 10 n Dry Spell.

NANhN - w ~ ~ DNs -
MERGED. Cal, Nov. 20.-seldom has II hap
pened that n rattlesnake bite has been sum
cient to destroy tho reputation ot q Weather
prophet. Rattlesnake Jack MoGan Ia known
from one end OF the Mojave desert to the other,
An eccentric sort OF man. he likcs to frequent
tho haunts Of snakes. and often pitches camp
for the night in places which ella monsters
and %rattlers have long pregmptcd. just before
the recent election he rounded himself up In
MERGED and began talking OF his adventures.
II takes two drinks to get MoRan's elooucnce
started; the number OF drinks that will bring
him TO n full stop has never been ascertnincd,
although the health and fortunes OF the entire
San joaquin Valley would willingly be Gambled
ava to lind out.
There Is going to be a dry winter he be-
gan. There won't be enough rain this season
to give the wheat any sort Of n start: twill be
worse nor 1t was last year. which was n proper
corker. How do 1 know Why. 1 found that
out by the rattlesuukes. They know, YOU bet.
When there Is n dry winter coming tSe rat
tiers, leastwise in Californy. cannot be conxed
to bite. I've watched 'em twenty-five years
now. and l know what | am talking about.
TIT snakes will not bite. and that means that
we will have a winter as dry as q bone
None Of his circle OF listeners betrayed any
desire either to test the accuracy OF his obser-
NubiOHS III natural nlNlOTy Ut 10 lueStlOu MS
meteorological deductions from the facts OBJ
served. He occupied an impreRnable position.
for a variety OF reasons. for some time: and the
matter was considered Of sufficient interest to
cause the publication In San joaquin Valley
papers OF the statement that snakes win not
bite this year and also the Interpretation put
upon the sign by the snake hunters.
Since then the barometer and the local
weather forecasts have been watched with "a
degree Of attention calculated to awaken the
approval Of the United States Weather Bureau.
No one has been bitten by snake in the valley
since the prediction was first made, and this
has brought into contempt the doubters who
have regularly been saturating their syatems
with alcohol in the fear that they might be
bitten and be taken nnware and at a distance
from a supply of snake bite cure. But last
week, something took place IN San Francisco
Eatticsnake will not bite this year or has estab-
Isieu u fact that snakes In captivity are
meteorologists OF, a different philosophy from
those that roam their native wilds in freedom.
small menagerie. There - also a snake
lessor Of sn1keology. king OF reptiles and m
OF hfastieshakes; moceasins end adders." He is
undertook with the aid Of assistants to remove
some attlesnakes from one to, another cage,
All but the. largest q the lot were tran sferred
on a rock and, as Turner approached, mani
tested its anger. Kissing and holding itself IN
readiness, to strike. Turner managed to get
hold OF the snake, Then. according to a local
account. the following occurrences took place:
Turner sliced the obstreperous snake from
behind Will both hands. Instantly the snake
ratified out u hostile warning and began twining
its length about the upper part OF Turner's
body. For five minutes man and serpent
struggled IN the cage. Turner strove to choke
his wriGRling antagonist and the snake tried
to sink its fangs in the keeper's flesh. The
RATHER. finally caught one OF Turner's thumbs
np to the second Joint in It's mouth and held on:
was then assisted by an animal keeper In get
ting free Of the fangs, and coils. A cord was
tied tensely around Turner's wrist to prevent
the poison from ,permeating his entire system.
Then he, was taken 10 the city hospital. His
wounded hand was already turning purple"
The remedy which is common for snake bites
whiskey-was given, and a piece Of the
wounded thumb having been excised, Turner.
alter some hours. was pronounced to be out OF
danger. The snakes. then. are biting in San
Francisco. or. at least. such snakes as are in
captivity outside OF boots. Are the snakes in
freedom different in their practices? Will this
be a dry or a wet, winter? The action OF the
San Francisco snake has opened the question
UP anew.