The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-19
Eph, the Snake Tanner.


i amt what it used to be, and don't YOU
| forget it," said old Eph Sewell to Star
reporter a few days ago. Nowadays
snake-charmer will have two or three
tanned reptiles and pretend to do a great
deal In the good old times no man
who cared to risk his reputation before
the public as snake charmer dared to
think of having cage of less than a
. dozen rattiers, snappers and spread
ers"
In the early days of Barnum's Muse
um, Eph Sewell was one of the great
est attractions. He had charge of a
cage of reptiles from many lands, and
at every performance always made it a
point to go into the cage and lie down
with the collection. In the course of
time his health became greatly impaired
from inhallng the poisonous atmosphere
of the cage, and his skin became mot.
tied and broken like that of snake.
Physicians ordered him to seek q
change of climate and avocation, and he
forsook the profession of snake-charm.
ing and went to the West Indies. Afte1
few years sojourn in that mild eli.
mate his health was restored, and he
adopted another calling by way of earn
ing livelihood. Old Eph's hands and
face are covered with scars which have
been inflicted by serpents' fangs, and
he never tires of relating snaky Incl.
dents of the days when he enjoyed the
j sQbriquet of 1.-The Snake KING"
N"To handle snakes success sfully," the
old man continued. as he leaned up
against the boX-otfice of Bunnelrs Mu.
scum, zone must not be afraid of the
sleek-skinned rascals. Snakes are Just
like human beings in many respects.
when they get hold of an arrant cow
ard or timid person, some fun is bound
to ensue. | was bitten four times ir
one day once by lot of little Jersey
Pine snakes, and if l had not choked
and beaten the offenders half to death,
their companions would have made it a
point to have sampled me daily. As il
was made it so hot for them that they
would all lie in my bosom and hiss
vengeance at the spectators"
"Did you ever consider your life in
danger from an attack by reptiles?'
asked Manager George o. Starr.
"Well, there have been times when
would have felt more comfortable at
liable enjoying good dinner. On one
occasion that now recall l introduced
myself to the largest boa-constrictor
ever brought to this country. He was
eighteen feet in length and weighed
over 300 pounds. He had been in the
country two weeks, and Barnum was
obliged to pay a good price to get hold
| Of hI I
saw that he had became monarch of the
concern. The remaining snakes were
as submissive as mice, and when they
crawled over to greet me his lordship
looked wicked. l caught HIM in my
arms, and he reared his head until It
rested upon my left shoulder. Lifting
him as much as possible, l passed him
around my body, and he apparently inn
agined that he was embracing tree in
his native jungle. He frightened his
coil, and a feeling like l was being
slowly suffocated came over me.
Quicker than flash l caught him back
of his head, and by desperate effort
wrenched myself free. Then we both
got angry. The boa came toward me
and caught him by the throat. I was
| .
length despite his struggles, and in a
lew moments he gave up the fight and
relaxed his coils. Then l shook him
until he was thoroughly alarmed, and
ever afterward he was submissive. Had
Ipermitted his coils to close about me,
no eartly agency could have saved me.
81 once interfered between two large
black snakes that were having free
fight, and they bit me two or three
times each before could gain the mas
terv. Snakes are quick to learn, and
they never forget a face. handled
one for two years, and then he was sold
to travelling exhibition. Eighteen
months later | paused in front of a
snake-cage in Baltimore. and my pet
was among the collection. He raised
his head and tapped on the glass before
recognized him, and appeared just as
happy to see me as though was long
absent brother. When keepers are
changed the snakes are quick to resent
it. Some years ago | was travelling
with Barnum, and at indianapolis went
off on a hurrah. At that time the snakes
had to be performed, they were vital at
traction, and Feejee Jim was substituted
for me. He was unable to handle but
two out of the ten, and Coup was so
happy that he almost kissed me when l
rejoined the show. Snakes are splen-
did eating. One day l determined to
kill small boa that was always max
ing trouble with the collection, and did
SO. What are you going to do with the
carcass?' asked fellow who had gone
through Brazil. replied that would
do nothing; and then he persuaded me
to cook it. We cooked it together,
and found it far superior to young
squirrel Afterward, in the West In
dies and in Mexico, l always regarded
snakes for the table with high favor"
'Do you ever intend to 60 into the
understanding business againP"
mo. I am growing old, and will
leave the younger members of the pro-
fession something to do; but l do be-
ieve that if could get big cage full
Of snakes once more, and eat, drink and
sleep with them as used to do, it
would make me feel ten years younger"
IN. Y. Star.
New Method OF Preserving Grain.