The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-25
NULAT SENDS
CRACKER JACK
SNAKE STORIES
ONE RATHER, TOO BOLD AND
FULL OF FIGHT, KILLED ON
SPOT, BUT ANOTHER EVIDENT
W REPosED BETWEEN TWO
SLEEPING BROTHERS AND WAS
WRAPPED IN BEDDING AND
CARRIED FOR MILES BEFORE
BEING FOUND.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL,

SHEClAi 10 The JOU KIN Al.
Mulat, May 24.-OCie Garrett and
Sam Garrett, brothers, who have log
ging camp one mile west OF Pace, were
in Mulat last Saturday and are re-
Sponsible for quite a thrilling story
relative to rattlesnakes which they en-
countered a short time ago, an account
of which is forwarded to The journal
as worthy of mention in its columns.
Now it will probably be thought by
many readers that this snake story is
a mere canard, and dished up to en-
phasize the fact that snake antldote
IS needed throughout the rura1 districts
to be used to counterfeit the deadly eff
fects Of the bites by these venomous
reptiles. But this belief, should it gain
support, will be baseIess, for the story
is sent by The Journal representative
as related by the Garrett brothers, who
viii vouch for it's verify by affidavit
IL necessary.
Death First Rather.
Last Wednesday afternoon Mr.. Oc1e
Garrett coming back to his logging
camp from his rounds, heard a rafting
sound ema ma ting from a cIump OF
bushes near the shacks, and he pro-
ceeded to investigate cautiously, the
origin Of the noise.
As he approached the clump the rat
ting became more violent; so procur-
ing a stout club, Garrett boldly ad-
vanced to the bush and struck it with
from the foliage a hugh diamond ba ok
rattlesnake, that at once threw him
self into an attitude of alta ok and
hCisting his huge fattened crest with
open mouth, he def1ed his human an
tagonist Garrett was not hunting
trouble, but he could not afford 70 let
the dangerous reptile escape and prob
ably bite, at another time, some of
his log men especially s there was
not drop Of snake bite antidote
using prudence, as we'll as agility in
maneuVering. Garrett succeeded in dis
patching the reptile. The rattlesnake
is poor fighter, and cannot turn
quickly upon his adversary; so he is
easily killed by attacking him from the
rear. The snake measured 3 feet, 5
inches in length and had, as a caudal
appendage, IA rattIes--14 rattles and a
button, as Mr.. Garrett stated. However
the mention Of the button" was super
fuous, because every rattlesnake has a
tuition, unless indeed, 1t has been
About the Button"
It IS a popular delusion that the but
ton develops into rattle; but a little
thought upon the subject will show how
preposterous this idea is. The RATHER
at an early age has a heard prOtuber~
ance, on the end of his tate, called a
button and there it remains. After
a period Of some months, a portion Of
the snakes body about half an inch
long, ossif1es, or rather turns into
horny shell, called a rattle; some time
after, another short portion Of the
reptiles body just above the first rat
tie is converted into another shell or
rattle, and so this process continues.
1t has been stated that the rattles are
developed at a period Of a year be-
tween each conversion, and that the
number of rattles are a true index OF
the age OF the RATHER; that 10 rat |
ties indicates that the snake is 10 years !
old; Is rattles that 1t is Is years old, |
and so on. But the number of years
the snake is Old, IS not indicated by |
the number of rattles 1t carries. Some !
huge rattlers are sometimes killed that |
are probably so years old and are !
found with only 10 or II rattles. Rat |
tlesnakes are noted for their longevity, |!
and a record of a RATHER with as |
many as 80 rattles IS not in evidence. |
Of course after q certain period in |
the snakes life, the rattles cease to |
develop.
The Second Story.
Last Friday week Ocie Garrett and !
his brother, Sam, started from Pace |
to carry two teams of oxen with the |
carts. from their Pace camp over to |
their home in Baldwin county. Nothing |
Of note ira n Snired on fhair io11rrav +o /