Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-04
KILLED BY THE BOA.
An Auaconda Squeezed 70 Death In NM.
scum.
tNew York Times

tNew York Times.l
In glass case IN the Standard Museum
In Fulton street, Brooklyn, there have re-
sided together IN brotherly love for the
last SIX months huge black anaconda and
n big yellow. striped Demonstration. The
anaconda was a thoroughly civilized and
gentle reptile, having been brought up In
the way he should 90 by the late Snowman
Reilly. who died from the effects OF rat
tlcsnake's bite In the New YORK Hospitai
few weeks ago. The anacondh's name
was Nebuchadnezzar. and he was OF so
benevolent a disposition that Reilly often
took him in bathing with bin, and Nebu-
chadneZzar was never so happy as when ne
was allowed to follow Reilly about his
museum. lie had been IN captivity Tor
four years. The Demonstrators Is ayoung
snake. His name Is Satan. aud IL Is scarcely
Il year end half since he was torn from his
native tbickets, and forced ut last 10 point
moral and adorn another tale than his own.
The reason that Nebuchadnezzar Is
spoken Of i'm the past tense and satan In
the present Is because OF n tragical occur
renee early last Saturday morning. The
two serpents had dwell together In unity,
as has been stated. for six months, but per-
haps their amicabilty Is due to the fact
that Satan has been torpid during this pc
Rod. Satan Is the DR.. Tanner OF reptiles.
He DEPARTS so far from the gastric
conventionalities of society ~ to take
meals only about once year. ut when
time ne evinces a Partially for RAD
bits. Preceding these periods OF hunger he
sheds his skin and grows a new one,
process which j. doubtless unpleasant, Tor
he is in very bad humor during the opera
ton. Last Wednesday he was led two
rabbits, which he bolted whole and then
proceeded to digest them. On Thursday
he was fed two more, and he went TO sleep
for their digestion. Friday afternoon he
seemed ready for more refreshments, but
Mr.. Holmes. his owner. decided to defer
the meal until Saturday.
This procrastination was fatal to Nebu-
chadneZZar. Early saturday morning that
unfortunate reptile was wrapped IN SUM.
Der, when Satan woke up and perceived
| HIM for. perhaps, the first time. Satan's
| evil nature got the best OF him, and he
seized the sleeping beauty by the neck-u
so The section Of Nebuchadnezzar's body
| Immediately south OF his head may be call
cd. since he is all neck but his head
and wrapped his own tail about
stout tree. which Is fastened in the
| glass case. Then be wound him
|
and proceeded to squeeze him TO death.
| Nebuchadnezzar was dreaming that he was
| about To eat a pug dog with a silver collar
on. when he was awakened by the terrible
pressure OF Satan's coils. That bright
! dream was his last. lie made tremend-
Gus effort to free himself from the grip OF
the South American. and the noise that
the two made thrashing against the
wall aroused the Waterman, who pcrcey-
ed the state OF affairs at a glance and rushed
TO find Mr.. Holmes. MIR. Holmes. regard.
less of personal danger, promptly sprang
into the cage and endeayOred 10 save his
net serpent. He seized Satan'S tail and at
tempted to unwind it from the tree. but he
might rs well have tired TO uncoil wagon
tire. The reptiles tail was imnOvible. and
| MIR. Holmes seized it back Of the head and
attempted to shake loose the grip 1t had
| upon NebuchadneZzar. Whether II was
| Mr.. Holiness diamond llaShing in its eyes or
sheer exhaustion cannot beaScertaincd. but
the man managed to drag it away from il,
victim.
But poor NebuchldneZZar was done for.
Every bone in his body was broken. and
after lingering until late saturday night his
gentle life went out. Mr.. Holmes was
almost inconSolabe. but he sent the body
to a taXidermist to he stuffed, when It will
be placed in n case in the museum, where
il will be IA lasting reproach TO it, murderer.
Satan observed the most uncOncerned de-
meanor last night until Mr.. Holmes punch
ed him up with cane, when he Missed like
a broken steam-eXhaust. Mr.. Holmes has
now two reptile eases in his establishment
since he has on exhibition the rattlesnakC
which killed Reilly.