Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-08-05

Taken to Cedar Rapids for a Park
Exhibit.


lection of birds, snakes and animals
of various natures in Winneshiek
county, and taking them to Cedar
Rapids where he puts them on ex-
hibit in one of the city parks.
On Sunday Mr. Adams went out
to Camp Rattlesnake," near the
Glice bridge in Bluffton township,
where Messrs. B. E. Bucknell, DR..
H. H. Thomas and families aid w.
w. Sanders are camping. During
the day two big rattlesnakes were
captured. One of the snakes w:s
caught mile or so from the camp
and had seven rattles. The other
was caught right at the camp AID
sported five rattles. The snakes, in
catching them, were not harmed
any, and Monday morning Mr..
Adams had them boxed up and
took them to Cedar Rapids. Some
time ago he took two young crows
to Cedar Rapidl which were
caught by Merton Bucknell. They
are all thriving, and We presume
by the time Mr. Adams gets tired
whistling for stations on the Rock
Island he will have fine geological
garden in the Rapids to while away
his time in.
We take the following from to-
days Cedar Rapids Gazette:
A. w. Adams, a Rock Island en-
gineer on the DEBORAH passenger
run, has presented to the Bever
park 200" a pair of Iowa rattle
snakes, which are curiosity in
this part of the state. Probably few
persons living in Cedar Rapids have
seen a rattlesnake in recent years.
Mr. Adams brought them in on his
train Monday afternoon and went
to Bever park to assist Park Com
missioner Lazell and Animal Keep
er Brubaker in removing them from
the box to the glass-topped case
which is to be their home. If they
will condescend to eat in captivity,
they should make an interesting
addition - though somewhat
dreadful one-to the park pets.
They were not in an amiable frame
of mind when placed in their new
quarters. They writhed and SPUR
med and their rattles buzzed inces-
sanity. There is something ominous
in the rattle One of the snakes
has nine rattles, the other seven.
Though their manners are not NICE,
their coloring is beautiful.
Captured in Upper Iowa.
The snakes were captured on a
rocky ledge of the Upper Iowa river
about ten miles north of DEBORAH.
Mr.. Adams drove to the farm of E.
l.. Smith where some of his friends
were camping. The party included
Bud Bucknell, the deputy game
warden, and his two daughters,
Florence and Verna: DR.. Thomas of
DEBORAH, Walter Sanders, manager
Of the gas plant of DEBORAH, and
Miss Genevieve Johnson. c. c. Mar
low, who owns a nearby farm, was
also present when the snakes were
captured. There are many of these
snakes in that vicinity. The rough
and rocky country is particularly
suitable for them and Winneshiek
county has taken off the bounty
which used to be paid on the pre-
sentation Of their rattles
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Bucknell,
with the latter's daughter, Miss
Florence. were walking along the
river bank, when a movement in the
grass and a well known rattle at
tracted their attention 10 the first
snake. They drove it out into an
open place and while Mr.. Adams
FASTENED to cut a forked stick Mr..
3ucknell and his daughter, with
sticks, kept the snake from escap-
ing. The Misses Bucknell are used
to the out of doors and are quite
as courageous as their father in
dealing with snakes and wild ami
mails.
AS soon as Mr.. Adams got the
forked stick he managed to put it
on the back of the snakes neck, i'm
mediately back of its fiat head In
the snake coiled it's body
around the stick and up to Mr..
dams hand, its rattles buzzing vi
ciously. The next step was to take
a piece of fish line, make a moose
Of it and pass ii over the snakes
head, then tightening it around his
neck. In this manner the snake
was carried-at arms length, back
to camp, fighting and rafting all
the way On the way back anoth-
er snake was discovered, and this
enc was caught in the same man
ner, although it fought more vi
ciously than the first one.