Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-03-05
THE SNAKE.EATER AND HIS STORY,


In the year 1928, man, under the nom
de guerFe of John Thompson, was travel
ing through the United States exhibiting
himself as a snake-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 tent held about 150 persons
comfortably, aud when John Thompson,
who was his own door keeper, found he
had a sufficient number within, he closed
the aperture, jumped upon small plat
form, and tinkled bell, upon which cur
tain was raised, and the performer COM
menced his duties. The man seemed to be
about % years of age; his face was thin,
and leaden wanness overspread his tea-
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 over the cuffs of his coat, he pointed
to box before him covered with glass,
and said, eff any one desires to satisfy
himself with regard to the reptile which
l am now about to deYour 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 a hideous rat
tlesnake. 1t, was coiled, and, when dis
turbed, elevated its spiry head from its
circle, and while its forked tongue played
with a rapid motion, it darted against the
glass, in vain attempts to escape, while
its rattles continued to quiYer with vio-
4 Io,. IL mi
that apparent flsttening of the head which
denotes the highest pitch of resentment,
| Its dilated eyes shot fire, and the coarse
scales in its contorted form grew rugged in
its anger. There was no mistake about
| its being veritable snake. ..aasa ;
After this the box was put in its origi
nal position of glass uppermost. A chilly
shudder ran through the audience at the
next performance. The snake-eater turned
his back to the company, and bent his face
| for 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
guild and passive, although the rattles con
tinued to sound. He then placed the heac
of the venomous serpent to his lips, anC
opend his mouth, and the long coil begaI
to descend. It was an appalling sight tt
see the huge reptile gradually going dow
the throat of human being The cheek
of the young man began to dilste, and hi
complexion became a livid purple. Hi
eyes seemed bursting from their sockets
masses of foam gathered about his lips
and he looked as if he was undergoing tn
utmost mortal agony, and even exhibite'
the throes of death. On one occasion n
less than twelve of his audience wer
taken out in fainting fits.
After apparently mumbling and crush
ing the fearful meal, the snake-eater agai
partially opened his lips, and the forke
tongue of the reptile was seen playin
like threads of bright red fire betwee
them. Presently ii began to emerge.
moved very slowly, as if held back b
awful deglutition of its master. AS tn
long, loathsome folds hung from his lipl
and continued to extend, the features {
the snake eater assumed their wonted a.
pect, and in a moment the reptile ha
emerged, was replaced in the box, and th
feat was accomplished.
: Then, after seating himself for a feI
! seconds, to recover from the perilous exc
cution of his task, the snake-eater aros
and addressed the audience. He desire
. them to believe that he had wished not
: appal but to surprise them. There wa
! he acknowledged, an art in what he ha
done; but 1t was a mysterious and undi
covered one. "They call me mad" b
added, bitterly, "and a conjuref, but
coniufer l am not, and though hAv
, been mad, am not now. Yet often do
wish were. You will denominate m
] calling one of foolish hazard, and perhaI
of disgust but did you know all, yo
would Judge me better. thank yo
for your attendance; and If have su
2 ceeded in surprising you, my aim has bee
! won" ..--...r
: THE sNAKE.EATRR's BIosRAPHY, AND TH
q WAY THE TRICK WAS DONE.
. One day John Thompson had perfOrmt
! in the suburbs of western city, when
!, gentleman appeared among the audien'
T who had known the snake-eater under
: different name, and In different sphel
u of life; in fact, they had been collel
s chums, and the visitor this evening hS
d considered that the snake-eater's lot wou
n have been cast in quite different moul
The old fellow-collegians met. Fig
2 years only had they parted, and y
y what changes had taken place in tn
II periodl
aWill you 90 back with me to En-
!" landf" said Thompson's old eompanio
/, "No," answered tho snAke-eater,
d must die In q land where all those / ho
Q sacred are buried. lwill tell you my sho
but melancholy history, and afterwa
II don't question me, but keep my seer
!, Let me spin out the few years allotted
II me as john Thompson, and let me sele
the spot where 4 must be buried. p q
|" "But to come TO facts, my friend q
. not what you think / am. Though i
II garded hereabouts rs one who has de-
Y ings with familiar spirita and wizards,
!. am only q broksn,hearted man, the chi
y Of sorrow, and almost without hops,
y % not speak lhIs 10y YouF Yupsla