Bill Haast, who ran a Florida snake farm called The Serpentarium for 37 years, died from natural causes on Wednesday.Haast's wife estimated her husband had 179 venomous snake bites during his lifetime. None, including one from a King Cobra, killed the charmed snake handler. The poison injected into Haast's system led to his extraordinary immunity to venom. Haast eventually donated blood to snake bite victims, saving the lives of twenty-one people.
The full story, which appeared in today's Miami Herald, also briefly notes that Haase's death represents the passing of South Florida's carny past. In Haast's heydey, Route 1 was the main road for sun seekers to reach Miami. The roadside was filled with what the paper characterized as "quirky" attractions which sun starved tourists enjoyed. Haast's snake act was part of that milieu. He didn't need an algorithm to master his craft. He loved his work: that was enough.
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