Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-22
MIscellame0ms.
Two Big Snakes.
THE INTERESTING STORY TOLD BY AN
OLD SNOWMAN.

Speaking of curiosties," said an old
Snowman who was being entertained by
some New Haven friends the other night,
"did any of you fellows ever hear of the
big snake Blackie and its still bigger mate
Rube?" All disclaimed knowledge of
the curiosity except from report, and re-
quested the speaker to proceed. He did
so, as follows: "Well, Jake Townsend
used to own half of them and another
man, whose name have forgotten, the
other half. They got hold of the snakes
in curious manner. A vessel arrived at
Salem with about 20 snakes that had been
captured somewhere. Jake Townsend
wanted to get the first choice, but another
man had the inside track and got the best
of him. He got first choice and took II
for about 5000 Townsend paid $l,25O
fer the three largest. and named the larg-
est RUDE and another Blackie. l have
forgotten the name of the smallest one.
Well, Townsend and his partner hired
Billy Vincent, noted snake man, to take
care of the snakes. RUDE and Blackie
were anacondas and the smallest was a
boa-constrictor.
Townsend and his partner put them
on the road and they were thought to be
worth more than an entire circus. Inside
of two months Rube was sc feet long and
proportionately wide. Blacke was not as
large by three or four feet. Well, when
the show struck Vermont it was about
time for the snakes to shed. You know
when snake comes out OF his old skin he
is ravenously hungry, so lot of rabbits
were kept on hand when the time ap-
preached. Bill used to take them out of
their glass-top box every day. and give
them bath to help loosen their skin.
Bill took them out one day and after their
bath put them back and left the lid open.
He then sat down and began to read.
Well, he read awhile and fell into doze.
All of sudden he woke up, and as he
opened his eyes he saw before him, look
ing like grim death, the smallest of the
snakes. Lying on the floor was the skin
of the snake. which it had crept
out of while Bill slept. Bill didn't
dare move, for he knew it would be his
death signal. He always swore he sat
there and looked that snake square i'm the
eye for three hours. Good circumstantial
evidence however, places 1t at three min
utes.
FINALLY the snake slipped down and
went towards cage where there were
some iackass rabbits. Quick as flash Bill
was at another cage and had thrown a
rabbit to the snake and opened the cage
door. He left it open so the snake could
help himself, and then got out in pretty
lively order. Bill was scared almost to
death. and didn't 60 there till the next
day. He opened the door and the first
thing he saw was RUDE trying to get at
the rabbits, which he had charmed. Bill
got hold Of rabbit and threw it to him.
By the time he had that down Bill had
another for him. Well. Bill kept that up
until the snake had swallowed twelve
lackass rabbits, ears and all, and six
whole chickens.
1.-The next day the other one shed and
was fed his share. Well sir. from that
day until they died they were never known
to eat another thing-Townsend soon after
sold Blackie and the boa. In 1S4S he and
his partner took Rube to California bv
way of the Isthmus When they got down
in the tropics the glass top to Rube's box
was left open and he got out while the
passengers on the steamer were at dinner.
You can imagine they got below when he
was found summing himself on deck. Bill
was called, but when he came the snake
was nowhere to be found. 1t was thought
he had gone overheard until he was found
by sailor between decks coiled around
some cable thath had probably taken for
another snake. Bill got him back in his
box by putting the box alongside and
lifting him in by sections They got the
reptile safely to Frisco, and before thew
landed man named Bassett came on
board and bought out Townsend's part
ner for $4,000 and expenses of bringing
1t to California. At the first show thew
gave they took $4,000 in clean money.
NeU Hauen Union.