The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-10-25
YON MOSER, THE SNAKE MAN
THE FELLOW WHO CAUGHT REP
TILES AROUND DAWSON.
He Turns Up in New York and Talks
to a Reporter. Dispels Delu'
si0ns About SernentS.

BIUuo dOOuO wv IN-
People in and around Dawson remem-
Der Won Moser, foreigner who was
here some months ago hunting snakes.
He has turned up in New York, as will
be seen by the following interesting ar
ticle from the New York Press:
If snakes were capable of affection,
which they are not, every reptile in this
country aud In Europe would speak OF
Gustave Won Moser as friend. If snakes
had ears, which they have not, they
would probably listen to the words of
admiration which Mr.. Won MOser has
uttered concerning them. He would
make one of the best snake charmers in
the country, for he regards all reptile"
kind with affection, and he knows just
how to ge! them to do what he wishes.
Yet this man, who has devoted large
part of his life to the study of snakes,
laughs at the very idea of snake charms
ing. He can pick snake up, whrl 1t
around and tell 1t to crawl in certain
direction, and the creature apparently
obeys with the greatest alacrity. MI.
Won Moser, who is scientist, scorns to
be considered a snake charmer. He drops
in occasionally at a snake show and
shakes hands with the performers, which
are an interesting collection of reptiles.
Some of the creatures belong to Mr.
Won Moser, but that does not prevent
him from shaking the metaphorical
hands of all of them. The reptiles, al
though Mr.. Won Moser says that they
have no sentiment, no cunning ard no
sense, seem very glad to see him. They
twist around his arms, crawl up over his
hat and entwine themselves about his
neck. He handles venomous rattlesnakes
as though they we're SO many boxes OF
bonbons. He compliments them upon
the lustre of their skins and the brillian-
cy of their eyes.
SNAKE CHARMING ALL NONSENSE.
Sand now, as | have said before" re-
marked Mr.. Won Moser the other day,
as he took from a case whipsnake about
five feet long and permitted it to coil
about him, "there is nothing whatever
in snake charming. All that is necessary
is to make a careful study OF habits and
disposition of snakes. | know the tenn
per of every reptile in my collection.
Some of them are solemn, Others gay,
and many Of them vicious. | must know
the disposition of each ind vidual snake.
I can tell by watching him wien he is
angry and when he is inclined to strike.
1t all depends upon the circumstances
under which snake is captured. If he is
taken so easily that he does not know it
himself he is likely to be amiabie and
sweet tempered in captivity. Most
snakes, however, are so badly scared
when they are caught that their DISPOSE
tions are simply ruined. The snake is OF
a very shrinking, etiring disposition. II
you Yex him and torment him and scare
him, he can hardly be held accountable
for what he does.
"Here is the VIII psnake, for instance.
He is a very gentle creature. See how
scared be is. The movement OF his
tongue shows that lie is excee dinghy ner-
vous. All, see that you have not over
me your natural avelsion to snakes.
Not so close 20 the gentleman's collar,
Mr. Whpsnake. Don't be alarmed, sir;
he is not poisonous, and there is no dan
ger of his hurting you.
'sAnd now, suppose that | was snake
charmer. l hold this snake coiled
around my right hand, thus, and say:
GO over to my left hand!'
EASY WHEN YOU KNOW HOW.
AS he spoke the mouse colored whips
snake slowly unwound its coil and went
over to Mr.. V0n Moser's upheld LETT
hand.
"That was very simple" explained
Mr.. Won Moser ~ knew from the feel
of the reptiles coils that he was tired of
being in THAI position. lie Was about to
make change. He had not the remor-