Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-02
THE sNAKE-EATER AID HIS STORY.

In the year 1898, a,man, under the nom
de quer-re of john Thompson, was travelling
through the United States, exhibiting hinI-
self as a snake-eater to the astonishment
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 so persons comfortably, and
when John Thompson, who. was his own
doorkeeper, found he had sufficient number
within, he closed the aperture. jumped upon
a small platform. and tinkled a bell upon
which curtain was raised, and the perform
er commenced his duties. The man seemed
to be about twenty eight years of age; his
face var thin, and lcaden wanness over
spread his features; but his suukcn eyes had
that supernatural 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 removed
his cravat, and turned up his Wristbands
over the 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
to devour in the presence OF you all, and to
restore again from my threat alive, he will
please draw near and examine IT,
He then turned the box on end, display
ing the glass cover TO the audience, and dis
closed to their sight il hideous rattlesnaLe
1t was coilel, and when disturbed, elevated
It's spiry head from its circle, and while its
forked tongue played with rapid motion.
1t darted against the glass in vain attempts
10 escape, while its rattle continued to quiv-
er, with violent and whizziDg sound, &C
companied by that apparent iattening of the
head which denotes the highest pitch of re-
sentiment It's dilated eyes shot fire, and the
coarse scales IN its cont0rted form grew rug
ged in its anger. There was no mistake
about its being veritable snake.
After this the box was put in its original
position of glass uppermost. A chilly shud-
der 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 tie box, and
kind of chuckling sound was heard before
he drew forth the horrible reptile in his
hand. The snake now seemed laneuid and
passive, although the rattles continued TO
sound. He then placed the head of the
Venomous serpent to his lips, and opened
his mouth, and the long coil began to de
scend. was an appalling sight to see the
huge reptile gradually going down the throat
OF human being The cheeks of the young
man began to dilate, and his complexion be-
came livid purple. His eyes seemed burst
ing from their sockets masses of foam gath
cred about his lips; and he looked as if be
was Undergoing the most mortal agony, and
even exhibited the throes of death. On
one occasion no less than twelve OF his audi
ence were taken out in fainting fits
After apparently mumbling and crushing
the fearful meal, the snake eater again par
tally opened his lips, and the forked tongue
OF the reptile was seen playing like threads
ol bright red fire between them Present
" 1t began TO emerge 1t moved very slow
i as II held back by other serpents who had
preceded 1t, in the awful deglution of its
master. As the long, loathesome folds hung
from his lips, and continued to extend, the
features OF the snake-eater assumed their
"ohted appearance, and in moment the
reptile had emerged, was replaced in the box,
ana the feat was accomplished.
Ihen after seating himself for few sec
onaS' to recover from the perilous execution
OF his task, the snake-eater arose aud ad-
addressed the audience He desired them
10 believe that he had wished not to appall
out TO surprise them. There was, he ac-
HnoWledged, an art in what he had done, but
II was mysterious and undiscoverable one.
Ihey call me mad, - he added bitterly, ''and
aconiurer, but coujurer / am not, and
'nough L have been mad, am not now.yet
often do wish | were. You will denomi-
nate my calling one of foolish hazard. and
perhaps of disgust, but did you know all YOU
would judge me better. / thank YOU for