The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30
A Snake Weed Story.


Clemson College is making an expert
ment with the growing of a rather re-
markable weed which has been known
though in a quiet way for years in
the up-country. 1t is down in the
lists as 'The Rattlesnake Master" "
and it's good properties are said to be
such that snake might bite man to
his hearts content, and get only
jolly in return, provided the weed is
used in the proper kind Of way. The
"master' grows in Anderson County,
as we'll as in other sections, and re.
Gently it was given care and attention
by Prof. DuPre, the horticulturalist
at Clemson.
To the best recollection of people
who know the weed it was brought to
this State from Texas. though it is
more than probable that it was thriv-
ing here when Texas was not on the
maps. Some years ago a man from
the Lone Star State came this way
with a weed potted and blooming, in
his caravan. cit is good thing" he
told the people, "and as long as you
have it about you will never need
whiskey for snake bites. [ discover
ed it one day. he went on to say,
"and have never lost it since. Driv-
ing along the road once l saw snake
fight which was being bitterly con-
Quoted by black snake and rattler.
It was fierce while it lasted, and it
was a peculiar affair. The rattler was
getting in some rather swift punish
ment on his opponent, and every now
and again the black viper would dart
of, stop for moment by green bush,
and then come back to renew hostili-
ties. This was kept up. Five times
l saw the snake go to the weed, and
then I decided to investigate. Iwent
over to the side of it, and the next in
slant the snake ran up and began
biting viciously at the weed, and as
soon as he returned to the rattler, /
jerked the weed up by the roots.
Three or four minutes later the snake
came back for his health restorer, but
it was gone. You should have seen
its antics. The snake was wild. 1t
jumped and darted and made terrible
struggles and lunges to find the weed,
but it was missing. In less than three
minutes the snake, finding that its ally
was gone, tumbled over and died.
Tn the meantime the rattler was
lying quietly overcome by the fierce
struggle. I thought / would try the
experiment further, so / cut small
piece Of the root; put it between the
prongs of long staff, and jabbed it
toward the rattler. From his half
sleeping position hejumped up like a
man shot. He was drunk, or crazy,
and made desperate effort to get
away. But I headed it off. Every
direction it turned it was wet with the
strange weed, and finally it thought
best to give up the struggle. Then
the snake deliberately twisted its head
and jabbed the poisoned teeth into
it's neck and moment later was dead.
It was clear case of suicide.
After this wild story the weed was
welcome guest in any garden. A
man from Pendleton said the other
day that the facts as related must have
been true, for on one occasion he took
piece of the ''master' through the
mountains and tantalized with it
big rattler until it died. Other ste
ries say that, years ago, the Indians
living in the up-country would cap
ture big rattlesnakes and stand a bite
for ten cents, and then escape pain
and death by eating PARTICLES Of the
celebrated weed. It was said that
this was one of the side shows at an
Indian gathering, and none of the
tribe seemed to fear sting or bite
so long as the precious antidote was
about.
The worth of the weed has been
vouched for by so many good and re-
putable citizens that it has been given
a place in the gardens at Clemson,
with view of making it's fine qualities
better known in snake countries. The
only drawback is that the weed is not
of any value in killing snakes seen in
dreams, though it might be used as
plank in the platform Of prohibition
people who do not like the idea Of men
carrying whiskey for snake bite, as
they so often do.-Neacs and Courier.
Absent Minded Men.