Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-08-30
Eisarming u RattleSnake.


The Philadelphia Times allows its Washing
ton correspondent to talk 10 the following blood
curdIiug manner concerning snakes:
assisted at snake killing on Wednesday
in the laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution.
| was very glad to be called on by Mr.. Rhees
for this purpose-hrst, because tho killing was
| supposed to be in the Interest of science, to
which sm warmly devoted second, becaus,
| hate snakes. and third. because there was no
danger. a ratesnake eight feet long had ar
rived at tho institution.
A dozen gentlemen mostly of a scientific turn
of mind like myself, were present. The box
was placed 90 the floor and all lad 40 oppor-
tuuity to view the monster before the entertain
ment began. He 10y ,iled up 10 his box and
looked like bolt of gray cloth. His rattle was
sticking straight up AID trembling with Wsro-
log. His nose rested on his tail, and his c,ld
eyes, set back in bis head, had an swful look.
His body, should thiak, was fifteen iuches 10
circumference His head Was about the siz, of
kitteo's. aud the spread of hs ~ was eoor.
nous. Everything beiog 10 readiness three
scientists at once began operations The sliding
lid Was uDscrewed. One of the coatless man
had stick with sponge as big as 40 apple
tied to it, and bottle of chloroform. Au.
other had pair of long pOccrs, while the other
acted as the sDske's doorkeeper. The lid was
slowly moved bsck little and the end of the
pipcers was inserted 10 the apsrture. Bump,
bump, bump went the snakes head against the
top Of his box and the tail sang a merry song.
The man with the pincers knew what he was
about and cautiously be thrust hi, pincers in.
Snapl and every body shuddered Then what
rafting, what twisting 1t seemed as if the
reptile would burst his slender cage. How he
pulled aod c1iled and writhed But the pinoers
man was stroDg, and 10 second or two the
spakes nose YVES through the aperture. Tbs
lid man was c,ol and watched sharpe that
larger opening was not forced than was ne-
cessary.
Finally the cold eyes camc out. and pumpl
his whole head was out of tho b x, and the pu.
GERS held biz n'ck like vise How he wrthed
and ratified Quick as lightning the man with
the sponge snu bottle was doug bis part. He
poured the ohloroform upon the sponge and
ahmed the sponge in the mouster's great red
mouth. The mouth closed aud il was forced
open again and more chlorotorm put into it.
Then the pincGts % 40 with bis left haud seq ID
the reptile by the neck and released the pinoers.
which tell With rattle 90 the stone floor. 1t
was not pretty sight msn holdiDg mouster
by the throat whose bit was instant death, but
he held him nevertheless, Tor it was 10 the in
terest of science. Then more chloroform was
poured into him.
At about this time everybody vas pretty we'll
excited but the pinoers mao. He very c,oIly
took pair of Small pincers from the table, put
bis head down 81 be could see and with the
little pincers be pulled out the the tsngs Of the
reptile ard laid them one after the other ou
white sheet of paper They were yearly au inch
long. BY this time the snake did not seem to
be particularly interested 10 science or auythiug
else, so they pulled him out of bis box and
Strengthened him on the a,or, the piooers man
keeping his grip st the nack. The reptile vas
measured, but he had lost over foot 10 Ieug,h
1t was explained that he had sbruok from the
effects Of the c;loroform. His writhugs had
stopped, b rattles were stili. So he was put
back 10 his little box sod the lid screwed dowo.
He deliberately coiled himself up but the
pincats msn told mo the soaka WAS dead aod
dldn't mean anything By tin fsc:. dido't
know that he had coiled himself IN. A pas
ter cast Was the ultimate end of this Florida moo.
ster. am devoted to science and would ks
to have it get along, but | shall never xiii q
snake that way.