The New York herald., 1921-10-24
NIkEAm MHkN
hulkN FN(M EILiHO
SLEW EIGHT In ONE DAY

you can't miss IT," said the youth
of whom THE NEW York HERALD re-
porter asked the way to Maxwell Mil
ler's house in Palo Alto avenue. Hollis
yesterday. Keep on past Haywood
place and when you come to the house
with six snakes stretched out in the
road in front of it, that's it."
There were six of them--black-
snakes. all less than six feet long
but not much. The shortest was a
little more than five feet from end to
end and they were arranged in order
Of their size. The house faces Hill
side avenue and there's long stretch
of sloping field between the front
porch and that thoroughfare. To the
right of the house lay another black
snake somewhere between five and
six feet long. 1t was not quite dead
and Mr. Miller was putting the finish
ing touches to it with rake.
Nearby there were three oversize gar
ter snakes and snake that seemed to
oiacksnake. Mr.. Miller was laying on
with his rake and keeping an eye on
tho terrace below looking for more
snakes.
''Yes," said Mr.. Miller, giving the ex-
piring reptile a final wallop, hes the
seventh to-day. The place is full Of
them. Can't explain it, No other house
IN the neighhorhood has them"
The reporter had made inquiries
around the nelghborhood and had
learned this was the case.
We've always had them" said Mr..
Miller Last year we killed forty
blacksnakes and 50 many garter snakes
that we sort of lost count. On Thurs
day afternoon Mrs. Miller. my wife.
killed eight"
"Just minute. please" Interrupted
the reporter. Mrs. Miller killed how
many?'-
'Eight," repeated Mr.. Miller. "A
big boy about six feet long, another
about five. and six young ones ranging
from three to three feet six-probably
a family coming in for the winter. She
dow and saw the big fellow coming up
The terrace.
Mrs Miller was a very nervous
woman before this snake invasion. To-
day she is quite well and self-possessed
She can polish off any number Of snakes
and aside from the rather natural loath-
ing for a snake that seems to be the
heritage Of humanity she doesn't mind
1t In the least. But she saw this big
fellow and got her rake. She clipped
him behind the head and then noticed
his wife coming along. She has become
expert with the rake and one wallcp
settled the wife. Then she abolished
the children.
We're thinking OF writing DIR. Dit
mars of the Bronx Zoo and asking him
10 send an expert out TO look us over.
There's something uncanny about IT,
Just about this time every year they be-
gin coming. One might explain it by
saying that the snakes want y nice
warm home for the winter. but why on
earth should they concentrate on my
collar? They ignore all my neighbors
We've lived here several years and
we've always had snakes in the cellar.
We got used to 1t. An occasional snake
meant nothing very much to US. We
knocked them off the coal pile and
they weren't epidemic. We used to talk
about that day we killed the black
snake in the coal bin But YOU can
go down my cellar this minute and try
your luck with two big bruisers that
are down there. I'll give you a rake
and show you where they are.
Then year before last had well
tyack OF the house uncovered There
vas something wrong with the pipes
a n NJ tfo-af IA
was something wrong. believe me.
Thirty-two assorted snakes In the pipes
and along the crevices. There was a
terrible slaughter. let me tell you
PERSONALLY am not afraid OF
snakes. Neither is Mrs. Miller. nor nv
little daughter. Moreover. we take no
sreat pleasure In killing them But it's
really too much to expect a family of
human beings TO be crowded out by
dozens OF blacksnakes. We've got to
kill them In order to have room our
selves.
''Of course the fall season IN rust be-
ginning. Since Thursday morning we've
bagGed fifteen and Il locks like a big
year. This would be a dubious adver-
tiscrnent IL we wanted to sell the place.
but we don't man from California
wanted to buy last year and offered a
big price. but we refused So they
can't sc5use us OF press agenting the
place with snakes
There's this about their concentrate
ing on my place. We Hollis Gardens
folk can mobilize here and fight tho
snakes face TO face. It's much caster
than guerrilla warfare OF bushwhack-
ing. We know tho snakes are here
and we can concentrate on them We've
newer had them bigger than six feet
and we have never had them In any
ptnar ptacc in fbe bnusQa fhnp fha rot.
iar--yet."
Mr. Miller is in the optical business
ut l4f Fulton street