Sun River sun., 1884-08-28
Sun River Sun.
published EVERY THURSDAY NJ THE
Sun River Publishing Compan,
SNAKE CHARMING.
a Snake Charmer Gives Her Business
Away. Behind the Scenes.

SHake OU0VWeV 0tVcS T7eT ouSiUeSS
Away. Behind the Scenes.
Tonight I appear for the last
time--for the last time I shall be
known rs snake charmcr."
So said tho Hindoo snake-c -charmer
to Boston reporter few days ago
at one Of the dime museums.
"What profession do you intend to
take upi" inquired the reporter.
'None. I have just married, and
since the man in the New York mu-
scum died from the effect of being
bitten by snake, my husband insists
that I shall give up tho business"
"How long have you been in it7'
"Ten years. I first visited this
country in 1874, being engaged with
Barnum, appearing in the ring han
ding snakes in what was known as
the snakes den.' I was with him
several seasons, and since then have
been ut museums in various parts Of
the country. Not long ago I met nm
elderly man, became engaged to him
and we were married"
"Were you ever bitten by snake!"
several times. Hcre on my right
arm is where python bit me year
and half ago. A hot day like this,
you see the hand is black and purple.
I have been bitten by boa constructors
quite often. The bite Of the python
and boa constructor causes swelling
and much pain, but never results in
death.
I'm handling snakes you must let
them SEQ that you are not afraid OF
them. Never take them by the head
as it angcrs them, but clasp your
hands about the center Of their body.
Now, these boa constructors in this
cage are in bad condition TO handle.
Their mouths are full Of cankcr, and,
- you sec, have shut one of from
the rest His mouth is completely
filled with canker, and il I was to
handle him he would crush me to
death. The lady who was here before
/ came did not understand tho bust
dess, hence the canker. It is partly
csused by the neglect Of baths.
Snakes should bc placed in water
several times each week. The canker
starts in their stomachs and works
up into their mouths. I keep their
mouths as clear as possible by using
such remedies as we apply when
troubled with canker ourselves. To
give the medicine I take them by the
jaw and gag them by choking. Having
gagged them, I place the compound
in their mouths, and, as the saying is,
the deed is DONE
"What is the average price Of
snakes7'
You cannot get good one for less
than 500. One must understand the
business to buy, us a'snake that may
look all right is liable to be nearly
dead. Canker prevails among them
to Q great extent, and you must ex-
aiming their mouths to SEQ that it has
not eaten into them SO they will die"
"How long do snakes live when
they are handled every day, as you
handle these?'
Between three and six months, but
as general thing not more than
three months It does not agree with
them to be handled. The largest one
here was an old fellow when caught,
and savage one too. DO you see the
punches on his back? Well, they are
buckshot. Let me take your hand
and put it on his back, so you can
satisfy yourself
The reporter mustered up courage
and satisfied himself that the snakes
back was full of buckshot.
"We feed them once month, Civ
ing them three pigeons" continued
tho charmer. Sometimes they viii
not eat more than two. It takes two
weeks for them to digest this food"
"What species of snakes do yo,
prefer to handler"
Tho pythons, for they are bette,
nAtured. Then, again, they are S,
handsome that I really love them
Why, lot tho sun strike them ane
their skins Shine like diamonds"