The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-16
sNAKF BITTEN.
Fendses. for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Cbarmirs
a Dangerous business

Nom ne Atlanta Conanunon.
The singular individual who has settled
his affections upon rattlesnakes Ia a man OF the
name Of Burney. He recently kept fruit stand
at the bridge on Broad street, but he didn't
keep any snakes there. Mr.. Burney Ia middle.
aged man, apparently fortl -nve OF nifty years Of
ace. lie has d flmily aud children who DIVIDE
bis affections with his snakes He Is ara ionai.
eenatbIe man, ana thinks he IA possessed OF a
secret which will enable him to m mage any
average reptile. About o'clock abe other
afternoon he made his appearance At Mr.. DICK
Loyal's Der Dom, on PtBchtree street, with q
rattlesnake coiled AROUND hi. left arm.
His hand was clasred around the snakes
throat In such a position as to prevent IL from
stinpinR him. Messrs. Butler, ION Gresham
and Thurman we're In the saloon at the Time
He was told that he couldn't come in with that
snake, but said he only wanted little whiskey.
Finally the bartender agreed to let MN h.Ve tns
whiskev upon his promising sOlemnly not 10 let
the snake 90 nor put 1t down. with this unoet-
standing he entered the room and OPT, ineu nus
lated his word by walking to the ir end Of the
room, where he deposited the snake on able
He then informed hi audience, VINO stood at a
respectful distance, that lie would show them
how to charm snake. and proceeded TO make a
number OF cuiiuus passes over and around
the a AXE with both bands. The reptle, IN the
mean time, had cooled Itself w on the table so
a. to completely conceal It's head, and seemed
90 pay but little attention TO the fourishes that
were being made ground him. The snake " 8
fully four feet and mai long, and had nine rat
for determining snakes ages, would make him
between ten and eleven years old.
Burney further Informed his audience that he
had recently possessed tw o snakes, hut that one
Of them got away; that no had been kee ping
this one about three months, and caught lin,
with five Others. near Pumpkinvine Creek
wherever that may be.
After conducting his charming operations for
Anew moments, Mr.. Burney took up a stick and
passed 1t around the snake. almost touching It,
for the purpose, he said. Of making him show
his head. ! this he was successful. for the
snake stuck II up In moment Then Burnev
seized him around the throat with his h nd, and
his erm. lie next proceeded to lie the snake in
y bow knot around his peck. but he still kept his
hold upon the snakes throat. After performing
this expel ment to his satisf elton he ~ In laid
the snake down upon the floor and n second
time resumed his charming operations. But his
snakeshlp had now. from some unknown cause.
got In bad humor, and beg n to show his wrath
by lifting his tail aud sounding his rattes with
vicious violence. Burney again took the stick,
and, placing It under the snake. he would raise
him up an inch or two and then let him fall mack
good earnest. At last he stuck his hesd up and
Burney grabbed him the second time by the
throat Unfortun tely Burney caught him about
up the enraRed snake threw his head back with
the rslidity Of lightning and stuns him In the
The fsngs entered his left hand Just between
the points Of the thumb and 0rst nnger The
ceptbe: Burnty still held to the snake. and
eaclaiming. q" am bit u he walked back to the
bar with perfect coolness aud asked for more
wbiskev. The whiskev was refused him, and
Butler advised him to go at once TO doctor.
Burney started forth with his snake on his
arm, and went to Collier Venahle's drug store
Finding no doctor there, he went To DR.. Penn
berton's store. aud drank nearly a pint Of pure
whskey. lie then came back to r-achtree
street, and went to DIR. Tavlor's drug store. BY
the time he mad reached this store, tue poison
had affected him to such an extent that he could
scarcel, stand. a large crowd Of anxious spec
tatoi =, who looked upun HIM rs dead ~ H. had
now assembled. out did not assemble Verv close
TO the snake. Barney was pc emptoiil ordeied
by policeman to throw the snake away, which
be old with are relucl1uce. The reptile was
forthwith knocked ~ the head hy the police
man aud despatched. In the mean time Durue,
was examined by DIR. Knott, who was present
The doctor found his pulse scarcely perceptible
and ne VS. evidently nearly gone. To counter
act the effects Of the poison, Dr. Knott tired
vn9t IL known as the Austr Ian Remedy, and
injected IA dr.c chm and half OF ammonia int
the veins Of Burney's arm. The effect OF the
ammonia was almost immedi itev seen. and
after brief time Burney went OF apparentl,
completely recovered.