Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-05
SNAKES AND THE SNAKE TRADE
The Serpent Business IN New York
The Death Of a veteran Dealer.

The Death Oh a Veteran Dealer
The Snake season opens later than usual this
year. The weather in all parts OF the
world has been so cold that no attempts have
been made to gather the serpent crop. Late
adylceS received In this city, however, say that
there has has been some activity In the South
American market, and the dual supply may
be expected here. One OF the leading city
dealers expects his first order OF 40 anacondaS,
assorted Sizes In about three weeks. Prices
rule about the same as last year-from $50 to
$500. according to the length. Sizes vary from
S TO 80 feet.
The trade Will actively set in about the 1st OF
April. and will continue brisk until about June,
when the travelling shows Will all be on the
road. For short season during midsummer
there Will be lull IN business, and only small
stock will be carried over to replace snakes that
have died In the shows. In the early fall, when
the side shows are getting ready for the coun
try fairs, the snake merchants again enjoy
prosperous trade. The merchants are conSer-
vative in ordering their goods. however, so as
not to be compelled to carry large stock
through The winter. The late Mr.. Mooney only
had one snake, and that very small one, 10
carry over this winter.
The recent death of Patrick Mooney, the pio-
neer snake merchant OF the city. was great
loss to Tire trade, and Is mourned In the Fourth
Ward, In which he carried on business so many
years. Mr.. Mooney was an Irlshman by birth,
and started in the animal and snake business
In NewTy, Ireland, when a young man. He
lived more than quarter OF century in this
country. most OF the time In this city. He trav-
eled extensively In his earlier life, and col
lccced serpentS in nearly every part of the
GLOBE. AS a rule. he did not handle venonous
reptiles, but the DOaS and anacOndaS sometimes
proved nearly as dangerous. He bore many
scars On his hands and body from their teeth.
and be used 10 tell thrilling stories Of his escape
from the coils OF the monsters that wrapped
around his body. lie used frequently to take a
! gCCd sizeG anaconda from its box In his store
| and trighteh spectators by letting IL coil
I around him. He always took good care not to
/ LET the snake get purchase with It's Tail on
! ally adjacent object, against which TO squeeze
| him.
lie Lad many hearty laugh at the fright OF
| people al the reptiles. One day party Of roy
steIiug SaliGra got rather demons IaLiye around
| the WINDOW CT his store, which was then In
/ Front street, ana large CfJWd coitec ed
| Mooney determined 10 dlsp2T5a It. Selling a
| huge and lively anaconda from Its case he
| swuDg 1t over his shOuldef and rushed out Into
! the crowd. The snake Wri,gied aud CO lei it
self, thrust his head our, aid ope c It's mouth
! In way to terr1fy Tie aCuu.esl nerves. Tn
/ crowd broke and ran, the terror stricken sail
! orS leading the flight, aud n u NJ until
| they had put several blocks between tlta aaG
/ the snake. Moneys orsiqu~ht va l1Hc he
talk OF the Deigi 01r:lori. Al ii" boys "A, ere
shy abtu lUlte IIbs af5uaG 4is d D: f0s molChs.
MooBty Z corr sc wa upt3G til lie wa1 a
| small, sl"n1eT-built man, but men Of tTl . his
| size who knew bin Old not care to incur his dis
pleasure. One day last summer ttpsy long
shoIemaD, Of gigantic stature, made some DIS
| tuTbance In his shop. Mooney seized a stick
| ard drove the man out. The fellow showed
! fight when he reached the Sidewalk. seized an
/ empty beer leg from In front OF netgh boring
/ barTOom, and hurled 1t at MONEYS head. The
! little snake merchant lodged successfully, but
/ his wrath was up. Stepping Oack into the shop
! he selZeC an axe and renewed the attack. The
/ 'lOngshOreman by that time had started fer a
pile OF loose paving stones near by, but seeing
Mooney with uplined axe close upon him ne
! took TO his heels.
Mooney knew all about snake pathology. and
rarely lost any OF his serpents from Gisalse Il
/ Has rather startling to the nerves to step into
his shop and see him holding open the capa
! cious mouth OF boa, and touching up canker
spots, from which the reptiles frequently suffer.
| He lost the slippery reptiles In ether ways than
| by disease. however. IN spite OF al pTecau-
tions. they would occasionally escape from cap
| t1Yity.
| Mooney found one fine anaconda dead one
morning several blocks from ais store. An ex-
| cited crowd had followed il and stoned il 10
/ death, not knowing whence + came.
! ON another occasion Mooney arrived at his
store and found that five snakes were gene
up inside OF a long stoEeDlpa that iay in rear
! storeroom. The reptiles bracad themselves
and resisted all Efforts a. getting them out. As
snakes go without food a month az a time the
prospect or coaA!ng them out was Lot prOmij-
ing. FINALLY, tEa rivets IL The stde OF the pipe
were cut, and the reluctant shakes were gotten
/ out.
! Another snake once escaped. and was MISSING
/ for SIX months. IT. was given up as hopsiessly
iost. one day, III removing some Old rope and
other rubbish In The lott. the snake was found
alive and well. How he had gotten sufficient
food 10 keep him alive was mystery
3 TWO boaa clmOe from the first story to the
roof OF the building one night. In the morning
one was found dead in the street. it evidently
( having fallen Off. The other was found cotled
around chimney stack.
/ Mr.. Mooney had TO keep bis store heated to a
tropical temperature to keep his stock comfort
/ able. 10 the late cold spell he was in the habit
/ OF working in the superheated room and then
! going outdoors without an overcoat. He caught
/ severe cold. which resulted in pneumonia
and caused his de ath.-N. r sun.
GEORGE ELIOT's WILL.-The Illustrated Lon.