In 1856, during Minnesota’s earliest years of settlement, an enterprising young newlywed moonshiner in the Fillmore County village of Choice found the area so full of rattlesnakes that he schemed to profit without having to encounter any wild creatures. He manufactured and sold what became a well-known antidote to snakebite. As time passed, he began to market medicine to customers who had been “bitten only in their imagination.” Word of the booming business eventually reached the county seat of Preston where federal officers smelled a rat, not a snake. A posse, including a U. S. official, made the trip to Choice. It did take a great deal of testing to validate their suspicions – moonshine, not medicine. They seized the manufacturer and as much of the liquid concoction and equipment as possible and walked 17 miles back to Preston. They “lubricated themselves” against any rattlesnakes they might encounter on the way home. At his hearing, the thus-foiled moonshiner promised better behavior and was released. The remaining confiscated liquid was stored in the basement of a house. In time, however, it disappeared.
No actual snakebite was documented in that alcohol-related account, but in a 2018 area newspaper article, Dr. Dan Keyler noted that most rattlesnake bites are “illegitimate.” (people doing dumb things with snakes).
A 1937 newspaper article described a 61-year-old Winona County farmer who was bitten on his finger while “providing water for 35 rattlers that he keeps in a large box on his farm. (Albert) Carpenter has been making a practice of several years of catching rattlesnakes in the spring and keeping them for sale during the summer to circuses, scientists and others interested in the snakes. In the fall he killed what snakes he has on hand and collects the bounty offered by the county.”
It was the third time Carpenter had been bitten. He tried to suck the poison out of his finger, and his tongue became infected and swollen as well. A physician was summoned, who injected serum and removed the patient to the hospital in Winona.
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A 2011 Caledonia newspaper report of a hiker bitten by a timber rattlesnake in a state park called him the first human bitten by a rattlesnake in Minnesota since 2000 (11 years). A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist was quoted to say the last known fatality in Minnesota from a rattlesnake was in 1868.
Possibly because snakebites were rare, there was newspaper coverage in Caledonia, even when the event did not occur in Houston County. In the 27 years from 1899 to August of 1925, there were accounts of eight human and one cow being bitten. The few repeated here appear with original spelling and punctuation (or lack of thereof).
BITTEN BY A RATTLER (June 10, 1899)
“A painful and serious accident befell William Keuney of Winnebago Valley on Saturday of last week. While he and his brother Dan were plowing in a near by field, about a mile from the house, Will in stepping forward put his foot down on a big rattle snake, who promptly accepted the challenge for which he no doubt took it to be, by promptly sinking his fangs into the young man’s foot, striking twice before he became a “permanent fixture.” It required a great deal of pounding and pulling before his snakeship saw fit to let go. He was finally pulled away and killed but not before he had ejected considerable poison into the young man’s system. Dan, as soon as he saw the situation, applied his lips to the wound and sucked out as much of the poison as he thought necessary. In the meantime a boy had been sent here for Dr. Sutter, who immediately left for the scene of action. Upon his arrival, he found the boy doing fairly well: thanks to the clear head and presence of mind displayed by his brother Dan.”
BITTEN BY A RATTLESNAKE: A Five Year Old Girl Narrowly Escapes a horrible Death (June 22, 1901)
“Freida, the five year old daughter of Carl Nunemacher, has been near to death the past week from the bite of a rattlesnake … but happily is now recovering … Her folks resorted to remedies of their own, and several hours after brought the girl to town …. Dr. Crandall being out of town, further delay was caused before medical aid was secured.”
Aug. 6, 1920
“John T. Ryan of New Albin had an exciting experience recently with a rattle snake, according to a report in the Lansing Mirror. Mr. Ryan was out picking berries near town and ran onto the reptile – or rather the reptile ran onto him – and partially wrapped itself about one of his arms. Ryan lost no time in disengaging himself from the folds of the snake which had not the time to strike when he threw it from him. After going a short distance from the scene he gathered courage and returned and dispatched the reptile which carried fifteen rattles and was an old timer. He dragged the snake to town and had it on exhibition.”
Sept. 3, 1920
“Vincent P. Hennessy of Buehrs, S. D., son of M. W. Hennessy of Winnebago, is in the hospital at Pierre, as the result of rattle snake poisoning. Meeting a rattle snake in the field, young Hennessy had no weapon to kill the reptile and used a bridle he was carrying to dispatch it. Some of the deadly venom from the snake remained on the bridle and finally found lodgment in his arm when he brushed a mosquito bite.”
Timber rattlesnakes are typically very timid and attempt to avoid an encounter unless they feel threatened. Snakebite is serious. The aforementioned hiker in the state park was in the hospital 10 days before being discharged. Older treatments such as massive doses of alcohol, cryotherapy (one victim lost an arm) and suction are not recommended. Stay calm to prevent quick spreading, and get help as soon as possible at a hospital that carries antivenom.
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