Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18
A SNAKE CHARMER.
tie Handles Rattlesnaxes with Impunity-
Some HideOus Pets-They Don't Like
strangers.

y
Some Hideous Pets-They Don't Like
Strangers.
From the Dubuque Times. August 4.
The chief object of interest at the
levee, yesterday, that ever busy mart
was harvest hand, who had a couple
Of rattlesnakes in a box, with which
foz small sum, he would perform some
wonderful feats, considering tie danger
Gus character of the snakes. An India
snake charmer would scarcely attempt
more than this man accomplished with
these treacherous, dangerous pets. q
single stroke from one of which might
send him into eternity. The snakes
were of the large yellow variety. and
people who have wondered at the power
these reptiles have over birds, OF
charming them, and rendering them
helpless, should look into that snake
box and see the two great monsters this
man carries about with him. They
keep up some music, too, with
their rattles." One or two
strangers were bold enough to put
their finger to the glass for the purpose
OF seeing the snakes strike at it, and
how, quicker than the sense of sight,
the snap came. twenty-five cents each
from three persons induced the man to
take his box back of the warehouses and
display his pets, each of the spectators
taking good care to get into safe quar-
tiers as precaution against accidents.
The largest snake must be fully five
feet long, and the smallest one not
quite six inches shorter. After making
few passes with his hands over the
glass, pretty much as hunter to dog
he wished to retain in lying position.
the man pulled the glass slide out, and
then keeping his hand going round and
round for few seconds, and humming
q low air, he suddenly darted his hand
down and caught the larger snake just
back of his head and lifted him out of
the box. He placed the snake on his
shoulder, and caused him to Irvine him
self around his neck and place his
head against his cheek. The charmer
then lifted the other snake out of the
box and caused this one to Irvine him.
self around his right arm at the shout
der and place his head on the cheek OPP
pos1te from the other snake. The
charmer then by motions with his hands
caused the snakes to crawl out to his
hands holding his arms extended in
front OF him. They would then crawl
back and resume their first positions
and gave change of programme by
putting their heads into the charmer's
mouth-tirst one and then the other.
The charmer then irritated the snakes
by showing his fingers at them, lifting
them up and down, but beyond a
threatening rattle they did not offer to
strike. One of the spectators, becom-
ing bold by the impunity with
which the charmer handled his snakes,
thought to have clearer, view of the
performance and he approached the
.charmer.,, This seemed to, irritnte the
smaller Of the snakes and TAX
ing. the time when the arm of
the charmer on which he sst was
fastened was nearest where the spec
ia tor stood, the snake Quickly coiled
himself and made, dart for the specta-
tor. For half an hour or more the man
performed with, his snakes, putting
them through their different tricks, un-
til the curiosity Of the spectators was
satisfied. The question being raised as
to whether the fangshad not been taken
from the snakest the charmer again
picked up one of the snakes and opened
his mouth, disclosing fangs OF large
size. The charmer says. he got the
snakes near Keokuk a few weeks ago,
and that he has been bitten five times,
but has an antidote and don't fear the
bite.a If whisky is his antidote, he
Sc med to have plenty Of it yesterday.
He claims that he could do. the same
thing with any snake, and says that in
two weeks more time he will have his
snaks SO trained that they VII come at
the call OF his whistle, or the music of a
mouth organ.H % ~ "a VS.