The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-12-05
EARNING |: HIS. LIVING
By k|Ll|NG SNAKES
Brown Of Newton Wis, Gan
Make $100 on Rattlers z.
55s.sss. ~ in a Week.
Nothing Very Hazardous About
(: It, He Says Skin and
Oil Pay. -.=.z...

.+@ LA CROSSE, Wis, Dec 2.-H. T.
Brown Of Newton, Wis, claims to be
the only rattlesnake hunter in the
northwest, and one of the few in the
United States. Hunting diamond
marked rattlers is his occupation, and
forms his sole mode Of earning liv-
ing. Oftentimes his income for
single week will amount to over 500.
A Recognized Expert. ---
Two modes Of earning living are
open to Brow none to hire himself to
farmer for week, as an expert
rattle-snake killer on a salary basis,
and other as a free lance in which he
roams the country, collecting only the
bounty on snakes he has killed
Browns price for his services for a
week are $50, and he guarantees to
rid a 160-acre farm if not too rocky,
of all the snakes in week, and de-
stroy the homes of the reptiles.
Never Been Bitten.
For fifteen years Brown has been
hunting snakes and making living at
it. In all that time he has not been.
bitten. He goes out much as an ex-
pert angler goes after fish. His secret
OF catching snakes is just as elusive
as that of anglers getting fish. He
will not divulge the snake holes he
has found, although he says finding
them is an easy matter, when one
single nest is not an unusual record
for Brown
Good Days Work. =.
One day last fall, while working in
the hills south of La Crosse he killed
thirty-one snakes. The next day he
foraged in nearby townships and
killed twenty-seven. The following
day he killed forty-two. The state
pays so cents for each rattler, while
the skin and oil add to the profitable
nature of snake hunting. Brown gets
SO an ounce for OIL, and a good skin
will bring in $3.50. The biggest snake
captured last fall was in the town of
Pennington; it bore twenty-five rat
ties.
Weapons He Uses.
A stout hickory club is Browns
only weapon in his hunting. He
| never allows snake to get directly in
| front of him and moving away, for in
! that position the RATHER can strike a
deadly blow. Brown follows the snake
from the side, without fear Of strike
| He says one may place his hand with
| in an inch of a rattlesnake's head, on
the side, and be safe from danger.
! 1.-THE rattlesnake cannot strike from
| the side,' he declares.
Occupation Not Hazardous.
when the snake turns, if you can
| get him to do so; strike your blow,
| quickly and firmly. The occupation is
not hazardous;*if you know what you
are doing, but I won't vouch for a
Beginner: I have had a few snakes
strike at me, but when the rattler's
tail is away from you and you are at
his side. you are safe. Sometimes I
take my. dog with me, and he can
smell rattlesnakes.. All dogs can, but
he serves as an alarm clock for the
reptiles. Rattlesnakes like rocks, but
won't live where there is much noise.
That is why they aren't found in stone
quarries, but only in wild places.
II once made $12S one week, but l
can't keep it up. I average between
$50 and 800 a week during the sum-
mer but in the winter I don't do any,
thing. Huh! I'd rather hunt diamond
marked rattlers than work in store!"