Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-14
Bullsnake Kills a Rather.

As is quite natural. the human fam
lily nbhors the very thought of snakes.
Unless accustomed to the reptiles we
loathe the sight OF them. besides en-
tcrtaining a deadly fear of the poison
Gus varieties. particularly the rather
In veiw of the above facts 1t Is not
to he wondered at that In severe cases
of mental alteration caused from ex-
cessive drink the person afflicted should
first think of snakes, as the most alb
horTent OF animals to his sight and
touch. The snake however, Is n much
more despised creature than he has
ever given any reason to be. He is a
harmless animal az a rule commits
no nuisance and only attacks his enc
mics in self-defense.
Harry Davies, the Denver snake
charmer. Is probably the most intimate
friend of the rattlesnate txtant. His
feats of handling them have been re-
counted hundreds of tines and, partic-
ulnr to note. are actu.l and true. Ever
since the time when his mother acct
dentally caught his handling copper
head ut > years of age he has shown
u particular fondness for snakes This
fondncss has grown with him until to-
day he follows It as n side profession
Colorado affords him n wide and pro-
life field In which to indulge his fancies
In this line, and every summer finds
him out ON the table lands OF Routt
county or ON the sun-baked plains seek
Ing the dreaded RATHER. His most favor
lite haunts lie in Routt county, where
MIR. Davies has found as many as lOt
ruttlcrs cOlled in one bunch in den
AS Is well known, the RATHER strays
off by himself at will during the sum
mer months, but when the first chill
Of autumn is noticed he hunts a mate
they in turn look for other fellow cren.
tHN nd hnF fora Ia
gone by this rounding up has resulted
in all the snakes in the country being
gathered in lunches ranging in slz,
from ten to 100. They congregate fol
liberation in prairie dog holes, ii
coyote holes, in crevices In the rock,
and in the spots affording the most
shelter from storm.
1t has been "A ger rally accepted ideH
that the number Of rattles on rattle
snake denotes the age-one rattle fol
each year. This ia partly true, as every
time the snake sheds its hide a new
rattle appears with the new dress A
snake. however. may shed its skin more
than once year, II living In warn
place in the winter such as In the
mllder climates or In confinement.I How
ever. they always hibernate, no matter
how warm the country in which the
live may be.
We We're treated 20 an experience thu
other Jay WMcn demonstrated very
clearly the habits of two different
species of the snake family Mr. Davies
picked up bullsnnkc and affectlonate-
ly placed II on his breast from which
place II gradually crept to his shoulder
! aud then entwlned itself about his neck
| An immense RATHER fully live feet long
| lying near, cast a detected look toward
| Davies, uud seemed TO enquire In q
half Jealous mood II he, too, was not to
be taken up and fordled. Mr., Davies
I thercupon lifted the old fellow upon his
| lap. which, however. became quite
angry when It bcheld the comfortable
| position occupied by the bullsnake. II
| bowed It's neck much as would n rooster
| In n fighting attitude ana darted forth
shafts OF fire from the little black eyes
| II any man but Davies had been In
| his position he would certainly hav,
| lost all nerve nj seeing these venomous
! reptiles grow almost green with anger
| II was evident that war had been de-
! clarcd ON both sdeI, as the bullsnake
was becoming rigid with madness.
| Lowering the RATHER and placing him
on the ground the snake charmer drew
| away a few feet and deposited the bull
| snake. lie came nearer his foe, which
was cooled ready to strike, and began Il
circle around him. He kept drawing his
| loathsome length along, always keep
ing his eye open for a opportunity