The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-27
MAN GUARDED BY RATHER.
REPULsIVE PET OF \ FLORIDA
HUNTER AND TRAPPER.


While He sIept-Snnkc hit Him and
He Died. After COnfessing His
Crimes-AnectIOn of the, Reptile
for Its MRster-An Interesting
story.
From the Washington Post.
'Oh. yes IA great many people buy
snakes and keep them as pets 1t is no
pleasant idea, but nevertheless a fact"
said the collector and dealer in wild an
imals birds and reptiles but" he went
on, the most reasonable reason for keep
ing a snake pet was given 10 me by a
Florida hunter in whose hut, down on che
banks of Indian river, once spent a few
nights.
Il had been directed to Jim Anderson
and found him, late one evening after
waiting for several hours at the broken
down, deserted landing, about nifty yards
from his place, a log shack nos prepos-
sessng in appearance on the outside, but
when we had discussed a mess of fish
cooked to turn. a delicious venison
steak, with sweet potatoes on the side,
and had seated ourselves in front of just
enough fire to keep the chill of the even
ing out. with our pipes going, it was not
half bad place. after all. The walls
were hung with skins of bird and beasa,
and altogether, TO the city man, the in
terror had strong flavor of that kind of
ife are wont 10 read about in the
story books.
1T was one of my first personal trips
ia the business. | have made many since
~.
crest. Anderson was not an uncouth
man and could talk well, He knew every
track and every haunt in the lower part
of the state, which in those days, was
but little disturbed by the tourist. He
had lived there for twenty years, and
preferred the life to anything the outside
world could offer him. And he is living
there still, for l get contributions from
him continually.
Saw snake Nenr His Head.
well, to get to the story, we were
leaning back in The rude home made
willow chairs, and l was listening to the
yarns that Jim was splnn ng about ALI
gators and bear when my eye was at
traoted by something moving In his chair.
Turning. to my h RIO, ! saw Il was
snake. In the half lgnt | could not tell
what kind, but the mot on of he reptile
was uumis taxable as it drew itself slow
ly along the upper part of tho chair, not
more than SIX inches from his ear
Il knew enough about he business not
10 yen IN fact doupt II couiu nave
uttered a sound at hrst Tor was frozen
TO my seat. L was trying 10 thluk "has
to do when Anderson turned ana looNeu
at me lie seemed puzzled Tor moment
anu theh IN souilu Oh me sum-
n Cr"'I NJ. - baad all, and
tb|n raised his hama An INN, n . rattle
snake drew # elf over his shou der and
down his hand and arm, then to his
knees. where II slowly oiled. and with
/ G ierrihle head slight V raised fixed its
headv ewes on me All thi, was oaly the
work # half q uiput To me il was a
week Anderson. who hsd again turned
70 look at me. whlle one hand rested on
the coils Of the snake. cfurked
..You,re a nice fe row to be down here
t3lking varmints.' he said and to get
q skeer on Won ius at the sight of a
ra,t or WHY this O fellow Is as harm
less as a blacksn Ike and more affection
a by far. Exc ptin' tn dogs, he's the
only companion | have had regular for
the last ten years
NATURALLY | felt some reinsurance, but
the very presence of rattlesnake even
row has a terrcrtzina effect On me, and
7 never handle thtn In my lire of bust.
ness RD. d not Ike 10 show hat |
was so very mu n afraid ard shook off
Z first feeling to some extent. But An
derson knew what was the matter. and,
rising while the snake hung fl ON his arm
and dropped to the floor, he went to a
cupboard and produced a Jug. the con-
tents of which had an exec lent erect
Upon my shaken herN's'
Quick in Masters DEFENSE
.The snake had cell d upon The rug and
was quietly watching US AS we neared
the fire again. Anderson stopped about
sly feet from the reptile and told me to
nro.ena to strike him I raised my hand
and at once the terrible ra lie wa Strung
ard len, nm an incessant whirr / turned
and literally ran across the hut. and An
Gerson laughed sit down he sail, and
nav M attenti,n to him He can't hurt
ana will ston the rocket IN a minute Then
- -, -. -. e.or,, apd Y,,ipa
:. Ten Years ago that thar snake saved
INV life I had been living here peaceebly
aronyb for nigh onto ten years and never
hed any troube with anv but one man.
THO, was nick Roston. | never knew If
,ha+ u.os bis tight name but whatever
{, NOS r,,,lI MOI likely ever know the
,r,,tb Roston bapnened here one day and
eoupd mo In rho hut was at work on
soroo slrins and the day was hot. so I had
~, go,,e ont looked IN and saw a
shaden, IN tbs doorway The man stepped