Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-09-04
CUT SNAKE IN HALF
THEN BUSINESS END BIT PENN
SYLvANiA FARMER.
William Schley Has Learned Some
thing About Reptiles Which Hs
Thinks He Will Remember-New
Antldote for Snake Bites.

William Schley of Decatur town
ship, Pennsylvania, has resolved never
again to cut rattlesnake into mora
than two pieces. An experience which
he had day or two ago has convinced
him that he may make two snakes
out Of one with impunity, but when
he gets greedy and tries to make
three there is apt to be trouble. in.
cidentally Mr.. Schley has learned that
as snake-bite medicine common chick.
en- can give cards and spades to whis
ky-a remedy which heretofore has
been regarded as an indispensable
adjunct to life in this mountainous
region.
1T happened up in Sharer's gap
said Mr.. Schley. Il started for
mess of huckleberries. After driving
up through Bald Eagle valley to the
gap l hitched my horse and took my
basket from the buggy. 1t was just
few feet from there that the berries
were thick. l was crossing the read
to the patch when saw big RATHER
right in front of me. In my time |
have killed some big ones but none
that could hold feather to that fel.
low.
For a moment | stood admiring
him and wondering how could catch
him. He seemed peaceable enough,
coiled up there in the road, and |
thought he might stay there until
could get crotched stick in the
woods and catch him. had Ratchet
in the buggy and went to get it,
thinking to cut crotched stick with
1t.
"Well, sir, that snake must have
been watching me, for the moment
turned my back it made lunge for
the horses leg. l brought the hatche,
down on the rattler and when l lifted
It there were two snakes where there
had been but one before. l had cut
The fellow in two, and yet l hadn't
taken the fight out of him. No. sir
He kept right on-that is, the front
part of him did-and in another mo-
ment he was ready to strike the horse.
So again my Ratchet went down, but
he swerved aside and let me have
those fangs right in the forefnger OF
my right hand here.
well. l tried to shake him off, but
he wouldn't shake worth a cent. In
my excitement l forgot that | had a
horse and buggy so near at hand, but
did remember that Chris Sharer
lived about five miles from where !
was, and I started over the hill to
ward his house. | put my foot down
ON the end of the snake and pulled
my hand free from his fangs. l ran
faster than before until | reached
Sharer's home.
my finger had swollen to twice its
natural size and my hand was badly
swollen. My arm was blue up to the
elbow. Sharer at once bound my arm
to stop the circulation and then
poured whisky into me.
"Sharer killed chicken and split II
open. Then he split my finger where
the fangs had entered and placed the
chicken on the wound. The chicken
meat turned green and yellow, and
the swelling in my arm went
down and the pain stopped. Mr..
Sharer then made a poultice of soap
and the white of an egg, and put it on
the wound.
"This relieved the pain and soon the
liquor that had poured into me sent
me to sleep. remained at Mr.
Sharer's house all day and then went
home. Although the swelling had
gone my arm felt sore, and expect
it will be some time before can use
z Ratchet again."