The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-03-06
YHE sNAKE.EATER AND HIS STORY

II lNNi- II n L lIAE AN ~ AAAS ~ AVAhAH
In the year 1923, a man, under the nom
de guerre Of John Thompson, was travel
ing through the United States exhibiting
himself as snske.eater, to the astonish-
ment of the natives He had horse and
van, carried his own tent from town to
town, and generally pitched it in the
suburbs. The tentheld about 150 persons
comfortably, aud when John Thompson,
who was his own door.keeper, found he
had sufficient number within, he closed
the aperture, jumped upon small plat
form, and tinkled a bell, upon which a cur
tain was raised, and the performer com
menCed his duties The man seemed to be
about 29 years of age; his face was thin,
and leadeH wanness Overspread his fea-
lures; but his sunken eyes had that super
natural brightness so often seen in the
eyes of the consumptive. His voice,
though faint, was musical, but interrupted
| by an occasional cough and as he re-
moved his craVat and turned up his wrist
bands overthe cuffs of his coat, he pointed
to box before him covered with glass,
and said, "If any one desires to satisfy
| himself with regard to the reptile which
am now about 10 devour in the presence
of you all, and to restore again from my
throat alive he will please draw near and
| examine It,"
He then turned the box on end dis
playing the glass cover to the audience,
and disclosed to their sight hideous rat.
tlesnake. 1t was coiled, and, when dis
turbed, elevated its spiry head from its
circle, and while its forked tongue played
with rapid motion, it darted against the
glass, in vain attempts to escape, while
its rattles continued to quiVer with a Vio-
lent and whizzing sound, accompanied by
that apparent fattening of the head which
denotes the highest pitch Of resentment,
It's dilated eyes shot fire, and the coarse
scales in its contorted form grew rugged in
its anger There was no mistake about
its being a veritable snake.
After this the box was put in its origi-
nal position Of glass uppermost. A chilly
shudder ran through the audience at the
nextperformance. The snake.eater turned
his back to the company, and bent his face
for q moment over the edge of the box,
and kind of chuckling sound was heard
before he drew forth the horrible reptile
in his hand. The snake now seemed Ian
kuiu hAlN DuSDlNG1 htbuOukl blO AobblSp OOA
tinued to sound. He then placed the head
of the venomous serpent to his lips, and
opend his mouth, and the long coil began
to descend. 1t was an appalling sight tc
see the huge reptile gradually going dowI
the throat of a human being. The cheek
of the young man began to dilate, and hi
complexion became liVid purple. Hi
eyes seemed bursting from their sockets
masses of foam gathered about his lips
and he looked as if he was undergoing thI
utmost mortal agony, and even exhibited
the throes of death. On one occasion NJ
less than twelve of his audience Wert
7 taken out in fainting fits.
! After apparently mumbling and crush
ing the fearful meal, the snake-eater agaii
partially opened his lips, and the forkec
tongue of the reptile was seen playinl
like threads of bright red fire. betweel
them. Presently it began TO emerge. /
moved very slowly, as If held back b,
, other serpents who had preceded il, in tn
: awful deglutition of its master. As tn
Q long, loathsome folds hung from his lips
and continued to extend, the features O
i the snake eater assumed their wonted az
pect, and in a moment the reptile hal
| GIuCIRDh1 W do 4bD1hALIu III b1V IVA anu b1l
l. feat was accomplished.
: Then, after seating himself for fey
g seconds, to recover from the perilous exc
! cution Of his task, the snake-eater aros
D. and addressed the audience. He desire
them to believe that he had wished not I
3 appal but to surprise them. There wal
y he acknowledged, an art in what he ha
u done; but it was a mysterious and undil
covered one. "They call me mad"
Y added, bitterly, and conjurer, but
9 coniurer / am not, and though / hav
o been mad, am not now. Yet often do
: wish / were. You will denominate m
d calling one of foolish hazard, and perhaI
q of disgust; but did you know all, 20
would Judge me better. l thank 20
IS for your attendance; and If l have SUI
9 ceeded in surprising you, my aim has bee
q won" -
:. THE SNAKE EATERS BIOGRAPHY, AND TIL
n WAY TIE TRICK WAS DONE.
o One day John Thompson had performe
Il in the suburbs Of western city, when
!, gentleman appeared among the audienC
y who had known the snake.eater under
Y different name and in different spheI
It Of life; in fact, they had been COLES
ls chums, and the visitor this evening he
d considered that the snake eaters lot Woul
n have been cast in quite different moul
n The old fellow -collegiana met. Eigl
. years only had they parted, and y
y what changes had taken place in I'll
u periodl
WIN you 20 back with me to En-
J" land 2" said Thompson's old companio
Y, "No" answered the snake-eater,
n must die In q land where all those | ho
-e sacred are buried. Iwilltell you my sho
but melancholy history, and afterwal
If don't question me, but keep my secrt
k Let me spin out the few years allotted
II me as John Thompson, and let me sele
the spot where / must be buried.
:" But 10 come to facts, my friend o
Ia not what you think 1 ans Though !
garded hereabouts as one who has del
sr ings with familiar spirits and wizards,
t. am only broksn.hearted man, the Chi
Of Of sorrow, and almost without hope,
~ Do not epesk thi1 foT youg sympsil