Dead Snake In Beer Keg

Iowa, 1900

Poisoned Beer Results in the Death of Three Persons

Fort Dodge, July 21. — Four young men living in Cerro Gordo county, near the Minnesota line, purchased and drank from a keg of eastern brewed beer, and as a result three of them have died and the fourth is now in terrible agony and is reported to be at the point of death.

The day was warm and the beer was consumed hurriedly by the friends, who little realized that they were sipping a death dealing draught. They were all immediately taken sick, and although a physician was soon after summoned, the taking off of three of the young men could not be prevented.

To ascertain, if possible, the cause of the sickness, the keg was broken into and the decomposed remains of a genuine rattlesnake were found. Improbable as the story sounds, it is true, and is rendered plausible by the fact that empty kegs are often left lying around for weeks before being shipped back to the breweries. It is thus easy for reptiles and insects to crawl into the kegs.

The scalding out of the kegs upon their return to the brewery would naturally kill any living organism, which would remain in the keg. It was only a few years ago that a party here became sick from drinking keg beer and an investigation showed that a dead toad occupied the keg with the beer.


Lee Junior Stamping State

Robert E. Lee, Jr., grandson of the great Confederate soldier, is taking a prominent part in Virginia's political campaign. He is a son of William H. F. Lee, who has represented the Alexandria district in congress for several terms, and is a young man of considerable culture and oratorical ability.