Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-21
HORRIBLE STORY CONFIRMED.
Sufferings of Man Whose Stomach
was a Reptiles Nest.


WLLIAMsPoRT, PA, Sept. 19.-About
three years ago Mr.. John Longwell, OF
Charleston, Tioga county. began to fail in
health. He had always been a strong,
rugged man, weighing about $50 pounds.
For about two years he kept getting thin
ner and weaker until he weighed but 12o
pounds. During that time he experienced
strange sensations in the stomach as If
some living thing had taken up its abode
there. He felt, or imagined he felt,
something moving about in his stomach
at times. On Sept. 20, 1885, this beliefwas
confirmed. At Mr.. LongwelPs solicita-
ton, and to humOr his supposed halluci-
nation, Mr.. e. w. Webb prepared pow
ertul emetic, having taken which Mr..
Longwell, after suffering great pain and
retchlng violently, emitted from his
stomach two live snakes, twelve inches
and fourteen inches in length respective
ly. An account of the singular occur
renee was published at the time, but the
truth was doubted by many who did not
know Mr.. Longwell to be a man of unim-
peachabe veracity. About two months
subsequently to the vomiting of the
snakes Mr.. Longwell felt a recurrence of
the crawling sensation in his stomach.
HE is TAKEN WITH FITS.
Soon after that he was taken with fits.
during which his commissions were horri-
bic. These fits came upon him at inter-
walls of tour TO six weeks, and lasted about
an hour. He lost his appetite and be-
came very thin. A milk diet appeared TO
agree with him better than any other, but
he could not escape the frequent vista
tions of agony and commissions. Three
weeks ago last Saturday MIR. Longwell
had an exceptionally severe fit, which
nearly cost him his life. AT that time a
| ridge was observed on his stomach, ard
his attendants were convinced that an
other snake was living within him. The
supposition was well founded, for yes
terday afternoon at about 3 O'Clock,
during an attack which caused
him untold agony and lett
him unconscious for upward of an hour,
Mr.. Longwell elected garter snake that
was eighteen and half inches loug and
fraction over one-half inch in diameter.
Mrs. Longwell, who was with her hus-
band at the time, states that when the
snake protruded about four inches from
the sufferers mouth it appeared to stick
fast, although she did not recognize it as
| a snake. Finally the entire reptile was
elected, but not before Mr.. Longwell, in
his agOniZing commissions, mad bitten IL
almost through in three places Neigh
bOrs rushing in to assist Mrs. Longwell
found the snake in the vessel where it had
fallen. They took it out and washed it.
THE SNAKE ON EXHIBITION.
A reporter saw the snake In DR..
Weob's Office to-day, and conversed
with Mr.. and Mrs. Longwell. There is
not the slightest doubt of the entire
truthtulness of their statement. 1t is
supposed that in drinking from a pool
! three years ago Mr.. Longwell swallowed
the ovum from which the snakes grow.
This is somewhat corroborated by the
fact that the reptile which made it's ap
pearauce yesterday is evidently of about
three years. growth, and about one year
older than the two which the gentleman
elected last September. All were
common garter snakes, a species that
| abOunds in this region.
Mr.. Longwell is feeling better since
turning out his third tenant, but his
stomach is very sore. He feels a natural
solicitude TO know whether or not he is
still peregrinatng den of snakes, and is
also somewhat concerned to know
whether the family that colOnjzed his in
terror department have left progeny to
grow up and succeed them.