Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1878 — One of the Latest Snake Stories. [ARTICLE]

One of the Latest Snake Stories.

In the Town of Hague, on the banks of Lake George, opposite Hulett’s Landing, has liven for a long time a man and his wife, by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Davis. This couple have occupied a log cabin, w v :oh nas been situated near the water’s edge. The place has been known as the “ Rattlesnake Man’s House,’’ and many visitors have made excursions to the spot to see this singular-looking couple. They have made a living from rattlesnakes, capturing many of the reptiles, and ob», taming the oil, which always commands a high price. At this cabin might always have been seen large numbers of these reptiles. The old man, who ls now about sixty-five years of age, caught them with a long pair of wooden tongs, which he quickly and dexterously grasped them with just below the head. He then either killed them outright or else removed their fangs, and thus rendered them harmless. He possessed power to charm them also, it is said. In fact,,he once informed the writer, who visited his cabin, that “ thar warn’t a varmint that crawled but wot I ken make ’em lay down as quiet as a lamb.”

The old man had about his premises a large number of snakes, which he exhibited to visitors, expecting and receiving many a nickel or dime in return. He never visited a village without carrying several of his odious specimens with him, which he would draw from his pockets and place about his neck, or fondle and handle them as if they were kittens. By these exhibitions he picked up a good many coppers. Many wonderful stories are tola about “old Rube” and his wife, the latter being as much of a curiosity as her husband. We have been told that the very shanty swarmed with rattlesnakes, the occupants not having any fears whatr ever of them. The land on which the shanty stood was lately purchased by Bishop Seymour, *of Illinois. The owner has tried repeatedly to get the Davis family to move off, but the old couple have refused until lately, when the Bishop threatened to eject them by legal process. He finally offered Davis ten dollars to leave peaceably, and the old man, his wife and a boat load of snakes left one day last week for Harbor Island, about a mile south of where the cottage was situated. On Friday the torch was applied to the premises. When the fire began to spread, a terrible sight met the eyes of those present. It was a sight that caused the beholders to flee up trees for safety. Hissing rattlesnakes and squealing rats poured out of the building from all directions. As the hot flames sprang toward the roof, the crackling of the dry boards mingled with the rattle of scores of maddened serpents and unearthly yells of rodents. The very roof seemed to be alive with venomous reptiles, and the bright green and white of their outside covering shone with a glare as the flames lit upon them. One of the men, who was a close eye-witness of the scene, says: “One large snake, about seven feet long, opened its mouth, and out came at least two score of little reptiles, whose little tails shook in the air as if they, too, were frenzied at the destruction the flames made of their home. Several snakes charged madly upon the flames only to Fall back burned to death; while the rats that could get away took to the woods. In one place a projecting log was made the object of attack by three large reptiles. As the trio charged madly upon it, a great sheet of fire, whoso forkod tongues were even more poisonous than those of the snakes, rolled around and seized the reptiles, causing them to cease rattling, as each one dropped over dead. About the ground lay many dead serpents and roasted rats, while some were writhing and seemed to be in fearful agony.”— Whitehall (N. Y.) Times.