The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-24

John Ludwig Of Minnequa Springs, Ia,
has invented an entirely new way of de-
stroylng snakes, says the Galena Gazette.
The whole country is oyerrun this sum
mer with Dlacksna5es and rattiesnakes.
The farmers say that they have eaten
up an the frogs and toads in the state.
There being nothing TO eat the beetles and
insects when the frogs and tOads are 10
more. the crops suffer horribly, But Lud-
wigs invention VIII save the lives Of the
insect eaters by Staying the snakes, and
all may yet be well. Mr.. Ludwig is engag-
ed in the occupation of Blasting rock. He
never goes around without a few pounds
of dynamite or nirUglyCerine in his pOck-
e. 50 thoroughly familiar is ne with hisn
explosives. The other day ne came across
a large blacksnake coiled around his din
ner pail, which he had tried in vain to
swallow. Ludwig attacked the reptile with
a club, and gave it a terrific blow on the
back Suddenly there was a frghtful eX-
pIosiCn that blew the snake and the dinner
pail to pieces, and very nearly made
mincemeat of Ludwig. As it was, it knock
ed him several feet and wedged his head
between the TWO forks of a tree, and from
this ne had great trouble in extricaU ~
himself. When the dynamiter finally got
free ne made an elaborate inves ,igat-on.
He discovered tha0the snake had swallow
Cd a half-pOund dynamite cartridge. This
fact was the basis OF his anti-snake DIS
covery. After the inspiration came to him
his next move was TO discover if snakes
really Liked dynamite. He was not long
in finding out that they do. 1t has a sweet
flavor and is put up in a shape very con-
Venent for snake to swallow. 1t is not
of too large caliber it is very smooth, and
can easily be eaten. Since that time, &C
cording 10 the stories told by Ludwig,
he has destroyed hundreds of
snakes by his ingenious process. He makes
little rolls of dynamite weighing an ounce
or two apiece. and leaves them around as
bait. They are readily swallowed by the
snakes. Having got thus far with his in
venuon Ludwig had TO think up some
method to have the dynamite explode. FL
nally he hit upon it, He bored holes into
the small cartridges and filed them with
red pepper, carefully covering up the hoes
with a soluble material so that the snakes
would not taste the pepper while swallow
ing the cartridge and reject the dose.
After the plugged cartridges has repoSed
for some time in the interior of the snake
the red pepper becomes free and begins TO
get in its work upon the snakes internal
economy. Rattlesnakes are peculiarly sus-
cepGble to red pepper. The agony is ter
rife. The doomed creature writhes in
pain, beating himself against stones. This
gives the required conclusion and the ia
tai explosion follows. The story is based
entirely upon information furnished by In
ventor Ludwig. He says that on still
night he puts his head out of his bedroom
window and listens TO the snake explosions
up the valley. 1T is only fair TO state in
the interest of science that no one has
been seen or found who win vouch for the
story told by Ludwig. 1t is certain, how
ever. that there has been a great decrease
in the rattlesnake population and the far
mers are talking of getting up some sore
of a demonstration to show their appreca-
ton OF Ludwig's brightness.