The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-05

a deep-seated dislike in mankind for the
snake, 1t is inseparably associated in
the minds Of the descendants Of Adam
and Eve with the origin of sin and the
author OF evil They involuntarly
shrink from it, and the desire to carry
out the Scriptural prophecy that the
seed of the woman shall crush the SER
pent's head" is inherent in almost every
human being.
Not so with Peter Gruber. He is as
much an admirer of snakes as some
men are Of dogs, others Of chickens, and
still others of horses. He is as quick
to observe the good points about
sleek-skinned boa constructor or a spot
ted rattler as sportsman is to note the
good qualities Of pointer. Gruber has
national reputation under the alias Of
"Rattlesnake Pete" He has restau-
rant In Rochester, the interior of every
Is lined with cages containing reptiles Of
every size and species from the little
green water snake to the giant boa Of
the South American jungles.
Gruber stopped in Denver on his re-
turn from Tacoma last week. He had
heard of Harry Davis, the Routt county
snake charmer and he hunted him up
Davis had heard of him, and their
meeting was a mutual pleasure. They
told snake stories-real, true snake sto-
ries-swapped experiences and antidotes
for snake bites, and each agreed that,
next to himself, the other was the
greatest living authority on snakeology.
Davis had already planned his rattle-
snake banquet, and he included Gruber
among the favored few to whom invi-
tations were extended.
1t was nine O'clock Thursday night
when the party Of six, including the
host, assembled in the little room in the
rear of the cigar store, and the prepa-
rations for the feast were begun. Da-
Wis went to box containing eighteen
large, spotted reptiles, all coiled up to-
gether in confused mass. He picked
out the largest and latest Of them all,
snake four feet long, with body as
| large as his wrist.
Gruber took the snake in his hands
and carried it to small block, where 1t
was to be decapitated. He placed one
hand over it's eyes and the other just
| back of the head, and held it firmly on
| the block, while Davis, with large,
keen knife, severed the head from the
| pOhy. GluptI LAltSIl pbLtppGo Vii thC
skin, took out the entrails, and the body
was ready for the cooking process.
Here a question arose as to the best
method Of preparing the snake for the
table. One member OF the party
| thought it would be better to roast it,
another advised boiling 1t and another
recommended making soup Of it. A
compromise was effected by agreeing to
| fry II and have snake on toast.
| The body of the snake was placed in
frying pan, and over 1t was placed a
glass dish. The muscular action, which,
as Is we'll known, in a snake continues
for some time after death, caused the
| body to writhe and wriggle in the pan
until the covering was thrown Off and
| the headless reptile squirmed out Of the
vessel. 1t was found necessary to cut
1t into pieces two inches In length in or
der to cook 1t successfully.
AT ten o'clock the party surrounded
| the festal board and the repast was be-
! gun. Some Of the banqueters APP
preached the rattlesnake meat rather
gingerly, but their prejudices were soon
removed, and they ate heartily. Not
one failed to ask for second allowance
What did the snake meat taste like?
Gruber was asked by a reporter for
THE Times" yesterday
Like any other wild game" he re-
piled. ut perhaps resembled venisor
more than amy other meat There
wasn't great deal Of meat on the
| bones, which were large, and 1t required
pretty close picking. 1t was very fat
and we secured over an ounce Of oil
from 1t. Here Is some Of It," he contin.
ued, as he exhibited vial containing
a rich yellow fluid.
What do you use that for?"
"Oh, snake oil Is a remedy for greai
many ills. / have cured many cases o.
deafness with it. 1t relieves sprains
aches and pains of all kinds"
"How long have you been in thu
snake business?"
CONTINUED on Sixth Page.)