Evening star., 1901-07-03

Hunters Busy Collecting Handsome
Belts for Women.

Belts for Women.
From the New York Sun.
This is the time of the year when the
rattlers In this region come out of the
dens In which they have spent the winter
and make for the water. 1t Is also the
time of the year when the snake hunters
get out their implements and set forth for
their annual harvest. They get at work as
early as they can. because the skins of the
snakes are more brilliant now than they
will be three months hence, and there
fore bring a higher price IN the market.
Later in the year the snakes will be fatter
and there will be more oil in their bodies
to reward the hunters, but that is fac
tor which Is not OF so much Importance
to the hunters as the skins, which have
been increasing in value ever since 1t was
learned that they have commercial worth
the material for belts.
Women don't like the snakes when they
are alive, but there Is no handsomer belt
in the world than the hide of one of the big
diamond backs when 1t has been tanned in
such a way that all the markings are pre-
served and its scales are returned to their
places. A snake skin is a delicate one to
handle, and there are not many men who
know how to take 1t off it's owner tan It
and keep 1t in shape for belt. The
skin IS used for other purposes, but most
OF the good ones are worked into BELTS
and the supply is never ahead Of the de-
mand.
Only once in a while is one Of these belts
made up for a man. The vast majority of
them are worn by women, and most Of
them are made up to order, usually being
the present OF some young man who does
not hesitate to tell story OF the capture
Of the snake that will make the wearer
think that he is one of the bravest snake
hunters that ever lived
As a matter of fact. there IS nothing par
ticuiariy dangerous In the pursuit of KILL
ing a rattler. The snakes are timfd, and
always try to run II there Is any chance
for them to get away. Usually there Is
such chance that the snake makes the
attempt TO escape. and when IT does it's
capture Is assured, unless the hunter Ia
clumsy or the ground very broken No
man experienced in the hunting Of snakes
ever places himself in a position to be
stun8 by the quarry. and in the case of
the hunt Of the rattler the prey always
gives notice Of Its presence before it
strikes.
Many of the hunters OF rattlesnakes are
charmers of snakes in way. One of them,
Charles Mason, who for years made part
of his living by the sale of snake skins and
oil to visitors in the Berkshire hills, was
able to handle any one of the many snakes
he caught alive without apparent effort or
danger to himself. Long experience had
accustomed him to the society Of serpents
and he knew all their habits SO we'll that
he was prepared for any move.
The favorfte spot for a snake Is on the
sunny side of rocky ledge where It can
lie and get warmed through. The serpents
go to such places in great numbers, and the
hunters, approaching them from behind
catch them with slip-noese of piano wire
at the end of small but rigid pole Creep
ing up behind the snakes the hunter slips
the moose over the head of the snake that
he has selected until II Is Just behind the
triangular head Then with a quick Jerk
he draws the snake into the air. Sometimes
the force of the jerk Is enough to break the
neck Of the snake, but to make sure that
it Is killed the hunter strikes 1t smart
blow on the head with a switch. A very
light blow will break the neck of the snake
and then the body may be laid aside until
the muscular contraction has stopped and
mis- SnakeShfp is ready to be skinned and
the oil tried out of the body.
In the country there used to be great
faith In the properties of rattlesnake oil
cure for rheumatism and similar dis
eases, and there was always a ready sale
for It, Once IN while man would turn
up with belief that the poison from the
glands Of the snake was good for the dis
ease from which he was suffering no mat
ter what 1t was. The poison is not harm
fni II It is taken into the stomach unless
there is abrasion of the membranes
through which the poison can enter the
blood Mason used to drink the poison
once in while Just to show that II was
not harmful. and he told those who saw
him do 1t that the stuff tasted good. No
one ever wanted to make an experiment
to ind out what the flavor was and Ma
sons word was taken
The supply of snakes Is running low of
late years for the war made on them by
the farmers and the owners Of the big
places In the country is beginning to tell.