New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-21
FIVE RATTLERS CAUGHT
Sckaghticoke Club Has an Exciting
DAYS Sport.
Try Telegraph to The Tribune. I


South Kent May 2O-There are FIVE less venOnous
rattlesnakes in the Schagticoke rattlesnake den
tonight as the result of the third annual invasion
of the Schagticoke Rattlesnake Club,
score of snake hunters took the train at Bridge
port this morning and at this station were met by
DR. John Munroe an official Of the Rattlesnake
Club with carriages. and were driven Immediately
to the home of George Coggswel on the Schagti-
coke Indian Reservation. He is the president or
the famous reptile club OF Connecticut. There
coats were removed ana leggings were bucKed on
by the hunters. to protect them in case RATHER
was met lInawares. The party divided into
three squads. under George Cosgswell Dr. John
Munroe Charles (Sharg) Wheeler and Dad"
Barber These men are old ratteSnake hunters,
and kept to the fore so that the novices would not
run the risk OF stepping one without seeing
him for the unframed eye is scarcely ever able
to discern RATHER lying at rest in the leaves or on
rock. Many reporters. Including those OF New
York newspapers. were present, and most or them
entered into the spirit of the hunt. Each hunter
was armed with a forked stick to pin the snakes
n the ground when discovered. The climb up the
mountain side for half a mile back of Indian Jim
Harriss shack is almost at an angle Of Is degrees
and frequent stops were necessary to give the
hunters a chance to get their wind
lust before entering the den. which consists of a
great ledge OF shelving rocks covering an acre
and facing to the south. George CoggSwe called
the hunters to halt and gave them some advice.
Go slow and keep as quiet as YOU can" said he,
land if by chance you should step on a RATHER
don't jump off OF him. TIe will bite you. sure as
fate Just stand him and call out Tor help'
Then you'll be safe"
A hundred yards up the snake den DR.. Munroe
made determined Iunge with his forked stick at a
rather which Just moving from little shelr
of rock where il had been basking in the sun
But Munroe only caught the TAIL and the three
foot snake souirmed out and escaped in the rocks.
He got away. boys" said DR.. Munroe, but l
got his jingles.''
The veteran rattesnake hunter held up the tail
of the reptile, with nine rattes on it.
Half way up the den Bill futile Of Stratford'
saw a beautiful yellOwback lying OF a bed OF moss
warming its hide in the suns rays. The snake
was coiIed up and apparently asleep when Bill
plunged his fork over Yer, its i body -r,,..,o
The hunters hurried to the scene. and Wheeler
s% tbs snake G and made ready to seize it by the
neck. Like arrow Wheeler's hand shot out ana
the next moment he held the three-snd-a half-foot
RATHER by the neck. helpless in the air the Pho
tographers took snapshot OF wheeler win the
wrigglng reptile cOling about his arm. Then a
bag was brought forth and the RATHER dropped In
il. There an angry whirr OF the ratIIes. , 81
which there were ten. and then his s1akeship
queted down and rested peaceahly IN his new
home.
In few minutes selden Waldo, a BridGeport
newspaperman. saw a RATHER moving slowly across
The snake had been frightened by some hunters
further down the hillside. and was craving away way
reptile and called loudly for help. When the
curator arrived the snake was lashing the ground
with his tail and biting the snake fork vciouslE as
he kent up an ncessant rattle. Wheeler carefully
watched his chance and. amid the SUSPENDED
the neck and in minute more the reptile was
dropped in the bag to Join the first snake. Then
there was a vicious whiTr as If the rattlers were
angry at meeting each otneT But they soon Oe-
came acquainted and quiet companions.
Indian Harris, the scout. who watches the den
for tho club in order the date for tho hunt.
ured three fine specimens. These were placed IN
the bag with the others end all taken TO Bridge
mort and placed on exhibition in drug store viii
dow THE rattlesnake hunters had plenty Of room
i'm the car in which they rode the average passen-
ger being in deadly fear that the rattlerS would
break out OF the bag and sink their fangs IN some
one's leg Nearly every member o. the cluh car
ried a small vial OF pernan nate OF Lotash ana a
libe-a supply Of potash with him to C5e in case OF
emergency. but one was hltten
DIR r f. Mc(ioverr, of Bridgeport was lnlSate1
into the club as an OFFICER WIN me u We 3t N tt
oficers OF the club. DT. McGovern held "A I'VE
rafter IN his hand and then repeated the Following
oath after Secretary Dick HOWell . 49,,
II am now a full fcdgeu member OF the Schasu-
cole PattIesnake Club. I s9lemaly swear to emu
Ia - tbe EXAMPLE of St Patrick and XIII all rtlefS
real or IMAGINARY either in the Schagticok@ Noun
tain or on Broadway. SO ns!p NE SaSWd, -.
The other hunters not being appointed 70 eN-
e.utlve oftices took the same oaIh ouI We o
cused from boiling tho live RATHER ana oeCdiAe
regular members OF the club ,,,,,. 1..or7o
Tbe officers Of the club are; PRESIDENT tIeoLse
roggsweIi OF the Schagticoke fhdian ttesefV %
hrsf yice-presdent. Ralph Poet o. MerNs, ~, 1,S
second vice-presdent William Z. Tutte. StTatloEu;
tsTy Dick Howell. Bridgeport curator, mares rI
wheeler Stratford; medicine man Df. T. er,,,,HH,J
Govern Bridgeport. scout. James harris SC"as''
coke Indian Reservation .i q, NJ
The failure Ia get more snakes aCcoI ulus ~ -
Harris was due TO the warm DAYS, OF leS'
vgeek warming the TattieTS up so thofoIsIiS -.
thev left the den and scattered as theH MolH 20
toward the loWla1ds Of the H1usatonie River as
AL at