Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-16
4 SNAKE IN LOVE.
j add webb OF Fremont, Neb., rs Human
Credullty.


Omaha Herald.
Among the many guests at the Millsrd
yesterday was Judd Webb OF Fremont.
In speaking Of the city where he resides
he stated that 1t never before was so
prosperous as it Is to-day and that the
future before 1t Is a brilliant one. Indus
tries of many kinds are growing up
and business Of every kind is
increasing. Webb is very genial
and bright conVersstioDslist, such
IS are naturally found among hotel
men, and owing to his large amount Of
travelling in past yaars, he has a stock o;
good stories on hand. Yesterday he told
s Herald reporter q peculiar and wonder
ful snake story, one that would hardly
be believe by many II 1t were not for the
fact that Mr.. Webb is greatly esteemed
and respected by all who know him, for
his stern integrity and honor. He
said: 81 suppose you will nsrd
ly believe this story, but
nevertheless IL is as true as gospel.
have seen and talked with all the parties
interested in it and, in fact, am personal
ly acquainted with them. II Is q story Of
peculiar devotion-.be only case Of the
kind ever known. The devotion Is that
of a bos constructor thirty feet. long, who
seemingly has reasoning powers. under
stands language, sleeps on the hearth rug
of 8 home, keeps the house free from rats
and mice, and follows ;ts master about
the house like dog. The huge serpent
is to-day the property CT thesRo
Gorsm Nail, now s resident Of David
county, North Carolina, and some twenty
years ago missionary In Africa. 1t see nss
that shortly before leaving AfrieasSae
went into his house one mornipkAnd
stepping into the kitchen he WAS hoTfif I'd
at fading his little child fondling On the
floor with a young serpent. The two
were cSressing each other Ike lovers.
There seemed 10 be no harm In Il, and he
kept the serpent in his family and It
soon became domesticated. It grew
rapidly and to-day 1t is thirty feet
in length, and has the power to crush an
OK, or perhaps "a elephant. Since
it WAS tiken into the family it hAs@neyer
shown q savage disposition in G1y way.
In 1870 the Rev. DR.. Nail returned to this
country with his family and brought the
large serpent with him. The bss has
been fed on milk, cruel and rabbaf, but
does not have the ravenous sppetke that
appearances would suggest. s. As 1t
grew older 1t became more domesti-
Gated, and to-day it Is THE slave
snd pet of the child who has grown
to be woman. a peculiar instance
of its devotion Is told. A few years ago
It's mistress had been away from home on
O three weeks visit. When she returned
to the house the entrecognized her at
once and crawling to her shoulders he
rested his ugly head on her back. She
had hard work to dislodge II, and 1t SEEM
ed that he feared that she would leave the
house again This is the longest time that
the two had been separated. A few years
ago the parents of the young lady died,
and last year she WAS married, one OF the
stipulations of the union being that she
should not be separated from her huge
pet. Frank Buckland Of the LoHdon
Geological Garden Association, In Whiting
OF this case, states that It Is the only one
known-sn affection between human
being and a serpent"