Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 June 1914 — RATTLESNAKE BITE RESULTS FATALLY [ARTICLE]

RATTLESNAKE BITE RESULTS FATALLY

19-Tear-Old Son of Joe Salrin, of Walker Township, Victim of Poisonous Reptile. Perry Salrin, 19 years of age, son of Joe Salrin, a well known resident of the Hershman neighborhood of Walker township, died Tuesday night as the result of a snake bite he received the afternoon of the previous day. Perry was cultivating eorn and the snake bit him on one ankle. 'His condition became at once critical and physicians were called, but the poison was carried by the blood to all parts of the body and he sank rapidly away, dying Tuesday evening. The funeral will be held at the Wheatfteld M. E. church at 10:30 o’clock Thursday morning. Young Salrin was a worthy young man and Ms untimely death is regretted by all who knew him and his parents. There is a section of country in the Salrin neighborhood where there are many rattlesnakes and a number have been killed. The W'heatfleld Review urges that a bounty be paid for rattlesnakes! killed in Jasper county and it certainly seems that it would be a very proper course in the effort to exterminate them. A bounty is paid for crows and wolves and fox, but rattlesnakes probably constitute a greater menace than any of these. Cattle frequently die from rattle snake bites; probably the total loss of stock from this cause is greater In a year than the loss caused by wolves in a decade. And it is not an uncommon thing for human beings to be bitten Only last year Howard Speaks, a young man living in Rensselaer, was bitten and almost lost his life while working at Gifford. Others have also been bitten and now a horrible death has resulted and the rattlesnakes are on the increase.

The Review says that if a bounty were offered then the snake hunters could clothe themselves tor snake hunting in a manner that would cause no risks. If legal we believe a rattlesnake bounty would be very appropriate.