The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-03
THE SNAKE CHARx BROKEN.

The Boston Chronicle whoss reporter was
presen, nj Cochituaie Hall on Wednesday,
inform, US that the snake bit the girl, and
,ha, Hill, the miserable iaiber Is arrested.
II says:
Yesterday afternoon being announced as
The las, day for the exhibition of,he "charm-
ed Girl" and her snake, some three hun.
lreJ PERSONS assembled in Cochiiuaie Hail
and there witnessed the revolving spectacle
of beautiful, innocent child Of about six
wears, in the coils of loaihsome, angry
reptile. Our reporter entered the hall nj
halEpast two, and furnishes the following
account:
The spectators were standing upon chairs
forming a hollow semi.ciIcle in front OF the
platform, upon which the child was seated,
and holding in her lap the black, disgusting
reptile, his head and neck proiruding ihro'
her hands several inches, and its body oc.
casionally wriggling aud then at rest, while
the angry flashing Of lis eyes, and its twist
ing and turning, created some apprehension
,ha, the snake would escape, but the won
derinl stories told by the mother nrd others
interested, attracted tho attention OF The
spectators. II was announced that that ex.
hibilion would now close, and be repeated
in fifteen minutes. The snake having
manifested extreme irritabiliiy and anger,
the child seemed dreadfully frightcned.-
The father Of the girl attempted to take the
snake in his hands, and succeeded with
considerable difficulty in putting him into
The box in which he is usually kept. The
interim expired, and call was made for
another exhibition. The father, Lyiord c.
Hill, ordered his child 10 perform with the
snake again, and she approached the box
with an expression OF horror on her infant
lace, and with extreme reluctance. The
lid Of the box was raised by the father, and
by his direction The child took Il from the
cage, tho snake appearing as ferocious as
before, and was only restrained from biting
by the firm hold Of the Tiny hand which
grasped the upper part Of It's body; in
changing hands, although the audience
were quiet, and the change was made az
gently as possible, the reptile seized the
thumb Of the child's LEFT hand, and coiling
about her arm, BIZ il, naiciing bad wounds.
The poor child shrieked with pain and fear,
and tried to free herself from the folds Of the
snake tho spectators were horror.s,ruck
The father succeeded with great difficulty m
getting The snake into the cage. We ex.
amined The wounds inflicted while The child
was ye, crying, and wiped the blood from
her hand. There was general expression
of indignation a, this wonderful "fascina-
,ion," and persons present seemed inclined
10 end The crpel, baIbarous exhibition, by
killing The snake. The exhibition was
continued, however, a!ier long interval,
The child being induced by persuasions 10
take the snake again. Al the close Of this
revolving exhibition there was an unequiv-
Dcal expression Of Indignation and cries Of
u humbug, outrage, cruelty, &c." Thus
closed The performance Of the "charmed
girl and her pc, snake" A more disgust
ing, revolving spectacle never sickenei u
parents heart or outraged every feeling Of
humanity.
During the time The exhibition has been
open in this city, the snake has not for
so Ear rs we have been able 10
earn, evinced the leas, degree Of dociliiy,
md there has been nothing like fondness
IN the part Of The child or the snake for
Zach other. We wonder that such brutal
exhibition should have been permitted for
| single moment.
The case came before the Police Court
IN Thursday forenoon, when Justice Cush.
ng held that an aggravated and brutal as.
'aul, had been made out, and refusing TO
axe jurisdiction Of the case, ordered the do.
endanl to recognize in $500 for trial al the
Municipal Court in August.