The Washington times., 1904-09-25
BOY HUNTS SNAKES
FOR THEIR SKINS
Reptiles Easily Found and
Are Harmless.
A GOOD WORD FOR SERP ENTS
How Missouri Lad Makes Pocket Money
Capturing RattleTs and Carriers on
Vacant City Lots.
A GOOD WORD FOR SERPENTS

KANSAS CITY. Sept 24-In a stretch
Of city land extending from Garfield
Avenue to Scarritt's Point, overlooking
the Missouri River. are hundreds of
snakes. rattlesnakes, bullsnakes, garter
snakes, blue racers, blscksnakes, with
an occasional cOpperhead among the
number.
This fact is a delight to fifteen-year-
old Edward Baruch, whose home is Mt
Sl6 Olive Street. He is a snake hunter
not killer--in the strict sense Of the
word He finds no difficulty in market
ing the prepared skins.
Early each morning he arms himself
with what he terms his snake fork" a
three-foot stick with prongs or forks
at the lower end, and goes in search of
his unusual prey. And seldom IT Is that
he returns eynpty-handed. for be it.
known Master Edward knows the hauntS
and ways of snakes as we'll as most
people know the habits Of their domes-
tic pets.
Wrong Idea About Snakes.
Most people have a wrong idea about
snakes in general" said young Baruch.
"If they would read UP on the subject
they would find that out of some 300
known varieties only about fifty are
poisonous. They would learn that they
can be easily tanned by handling and
that when they get used TO person
they would no more harm him than a
pet cat.
''Then, too, there are very few snakes
that will attack q person or course.
II you step on one, ii will most likely
strike you back. But what sort OF an
animal wouldn't do that?
fr,TT ~ eli I
In Colorado and cured. They are very
beautiful. and decorate my room with
them Some Of them I give away TO
other boys. But not many boys Ike
them around. a garter skin I got the
other day 1 am going TO cure ana sell
to a young woman FOR a belt IL VIII
bright But she IS the first woman I
ever saw who would wear snakeskin
belt"
Led Way to Bluffs.
AS he talked. the boy naturalist led
the way to the bluffs. Lying at the foot
of an overhanging rock were several
large squares OF old tin. Advancing
quietly to the first square, the boy reach
cd down. gave IT a sudden turn and
exposed to view a builsnake about two
feet long and large Of body in proper
ton. 1t was stretched out at full length
on a piece Of dead snakeskin placed
there the previous day by young Baruch
as a decOy.
At sight of the disturber Of its early
morning nap the yellow striped thing
gathered Itself into a coil, raised it's
CLASSY eyes, head upward. and protrud-
ed its creepy-lsolxing forlked tongue. 1t
waS at this point that a peculiar thing
happened.
Instead OF striking with his stick or
attempting 70 pinion It with his snake
fork" the boy stepped back a couple
OF PAGES and fastened his eyes on those
of his angry snakeship. For probably a
fun minute they gazed at one another,
neither flinching even a trtfle. Then
the snake began to show signs of un-
easiness moving its head slightly from
side to side and sending little muscular
contractions through its coils. Still
the youth did not change his gaze tho
slightest.
~ Reptile Was Charmed.
Another minute this continued, then
the snake half uncoiled and dropped
his head. hypnotized. charmed, or what
ever it may be called.
II sure fixed him. didn't II" question
ed Master Edwa-d. with a light laugh. 81
can't do It every time; but most times
I can-
1T seems a shame to Kill him. don't
it?" ne went on. Il could pick him up
and carry him around with me an the
time now IL / wanted to- See here!''
he exclaimed. in proof Of his statement
as he advanced and apparently care
lessly picked up the snake. catching Il
just bach OF the head, and letting II
coil about his arm. But I'm after
skins, not snakes, so I'll have TO exc
cute this one"
Whereupon. suiting the action to the
word, re dropped the snake TO the
ground. and struck Il severe blov-
about its middle. explaining that this
IS the vital part Of any snake, rather
than its head. He then stripped II as Il
II were an eel.
After wrapping the skin about a broom
handle carried for that purpose. IN or
der, he said. TO keep II from "shriveIing
up." he relaid the tin over the piece of
EnakeslCin that had enticed the FIRST
victim from his hole in the rocks.