Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-30
BOa-Constrictors bathing.

HOW THE SERPENTS ARE WASHED IN CENTRAL
PARK-sTRONG ENOUGH TO CRUSH A HORSE.
From the New York Tribune. October 10Th.
In the basement of the arsenal in Central
park. yesterday morning, portable zinc bath
tub was filled with steaming hot water The
tub was i'll small apartment, the air OF which
was heated by a boiler to a tropical tempera-
ture. Two brOad-shouldered keepers brought
into the room, under the direction of DR.. Conk-
lin, superintendent OF the menagerie, square
duced the water to blood-heat one OF the Inen
opened the box and disclosed what appeared a
mass of serpents coiied on the straw within.
There were Two bOa-constrictOrs in the box but
in the confined space there seemed to be
dozen. One of the keepers, after q wavy move
ment, caught the smaller of the snakes by the
back of the neck, below the head, and lifted 1t
from the box, the other keeper seizing the
Shiny body as 1t emerged and giving 1t twist
ten feet long, was quickly placed in the warm
water. The one that remained in the box
showed an inclination to resist such uncermO-
NOUS treatment. He raised his head above the
lid of the box his green eyes cleaned fercely
and his fOrked tongue darted out in q threaten.
ing manner But IN an unguarded moment
and was placed with his companion in the bath
tub. The larger snake is nearly fifteen feet
Once in the water they coiled around each
other gliding to and fro in perfect content. Dr.
Conklin explained that 1t is necessary to
They battle of their own accord when in q
cage, but these had been boxed up to send
away. In its native climate the boa is almost
an aquatic animal, living on the borders Of
streams and remaining in the water for hours
Ii is not a poisonous snake, but 1t bites Sc
that he had received in the hand from the
teeth of the larger snake. These boas know the
sound of the keepers voice, but they object to
as held by the neck and not permitted to get
a coil around anything with their tails I'm
that case" said DR.. Conkln, "the strength OF
their embrace wOOl0 crnSh "a ihe nf N
1.-THE head OF the larger snake is not bigger
than persons open hand observed the re-
porter. ~ should not think he could swallow a
large mouthful."
appearances are deceiving," replied DR..
Conklin. "The lower jaw of the snake is cap
socket as he is swallowing to admit the food
and will stretch several times its apparent size
This large boa is the one that broke from his
cage and escaped some time ago. He got into
the holes under this old building and it was
three months before We captured him again
too close to the hot boiler A large, fat pug dog
belonging to one of the men strayed under tie
building one day and was never heard OF again.
He was juicy morsel, and probably kept the
snake alive while he was In hiding"
By this time the snakes had remained long
by the keepers, transferred to the box and COW.
cred with several flannel blankets. The box
was then closed and placed near the boiler
where the SNAKES could dry at leisure without
danger of taking cold.
Suc 1.lOy W G0DeR'S Mu0G0ERe.
THE PRETTY SEAMSTRESS WHOM THE COM.
PLAINANT IN A BOSTON DIVORCE SUIT USED
To VISIT
Mrs. Taber continued her testimony in the
Taber divorce case In Boston yesterday She
denied many statements attributed to her by
previous witnesses, and detailed her family
affairs at some length. Several members of the
BowdOin Square church testified that the pas
tors study was used a common sitting-rOom
and that it was customary for ladies to 20 there.
remove their wraps, and eat their lunch. Mr..
Downes was no more intimate with Mrs. Taber
than with others of the parish.
Luther b. Townsend, professor of theology in
Boston College, testified to Mr.. Tabers visits to
Mrs: Lincoln, who was employed at his house
IN w atertown as seamstress. There has been
scarcely Sabbath since January 18th last that
IaDer has not visited her. Witness supposed
Iaoer was single man, or he should have pre-
vented his visits.
Maud H. Townsend, the twelve-year-old
daughter OF the previous witness testified that
she had seen Taber at the house a good many
times Saturdays and Sundays. Saw Taber and
Mrs. Lincoln sometimes in the sitting-room
Had seen him lying on the lounge, with Mrs
Lincon's arms around him. Had seen her
playing with his hair and IN ustache. He came
there two Or three times a week; father Was not
there.
q. w. Davis, the colored deacon Of the church,
testified that he had found by experiment that
1T was impossible TO obtain a view OF the in
terror OF the pastors study through the tran
som, with the aid Of cane and mirror, s.s testi-
fed by Mr. Taber.