SHAVER AND HOLTON TELL A SNAKE STORY: While camping in the vicinity of the water tank south of the Illinois river, Thursday, Vivian Shaver and George H. Holton, who were out for a few days recreation, killed a rattlesnake 41 inches in length. The boys had been out shooting at targets and were returning to the camp when they noticed the rattler lying in the road. Shaver, who carried a 22 caliber rifle shot the reptile, tearing off its head, and Holton, wanting to be sure the serpent died filled him full of shot. It was found that the snake had 8 rattles and a button. This is the first rattlesnake that has been killed near Ottawa for a number of weeks, as they are very scarce in this part of the state. Note: this article was from a LaSalle Co. Paper, from about 1905-1917, somewhere in between those years, in 1905 Shaver would have been 10, and after 1917 his family moved out of the LaSalle Co., area. Notice also the reference to the scarcity of rattle snakes in the area. ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Koller