Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-09-20
MISSED BY A RATTLER.
AN INCIDENT RECALLED BY Dr.
CONKLIN OF NEW YORK's
MENAGERIR.

MENAGERfR.
81 would rather treat almost auy
sick animal In the world than a
sick snake" said DR.. COnklin, the
superintendent of the Central Park
menagerie to New York Sun re-
porter the other day. "Sot that l
mind handling a snake particularly
but on account of the accidents
that are likely to happen.
"a few years ago." continued the
doctor, 81 had an experience In
treating a sick boa constructor that
will last me until the end OF my
life. We had at that time big
cage of boa constructors and sever
al poisonous as we'll in the lion
house. Very often q snakes mouth
becomes sore, and it is necessary to
rub medicines between it's jaws to
save Its life. One of our constrlc-
tors was afflicted this way. l pre-
pared some medicine and went In
to the house one night with a new
attendant we had just hired. This
young mans name was Joe, aud he
had been a sEake performer with
q travelling menageiie. The sides
OF the cage we're Of glass, as they
are now, and inside were about for
tv snakes of all kinds. There we're
dozen big constructors, q python
or two, and q score OF rattlers,
moccasins and oopperheads. As
Joe began rattling the door OF the
cage the inmates woke up, and
when they saw the light they were
ready for a fight. The sick snake
Law at the other end OF the cage.
The usual way in such cases Is to
throw a rope moose Overthe snakes
neck and drag him to the cage door.
Then his head is drawn out and
covered with a meal bag or piece OF
carpet. After that 1t is easy
enough TO catch him back OF the
head, press open his jaws, and rub
In the medicine. This was done up
to the point where his head should
have been drawn out through the
door. The rattIers and other small
snakes we're twisted together in q
squirming taugle In the upper end
of the cage, ahd the sick constric-
tor was threshing his big tail about
like q dying whale.
"'I'll 90 inside, Mr.. Conklin,'
said Joe, 'and give 1t to hin there.
| amt afraid of any snake that
ever crawled.'
"Before could stop him he
sprang into the cage and grabbed
the constructor back OF the head.
opening his mouth q yard vide,
1t seemed to me. Then he took the
bottle In his left hand aud proceed
ed to rub the sore spots. OF course
he was busy watching bis patient
and didn't have eyes for any thing
else. But it was different with me.
| saw one of the biggest rattlers
coiled for a spring. II be bit Joe 1t
would be certain death, and inside
of fraction of a second the blow
would be struck. Ny blood seemed
TO turn into ice water. My head
swan round and round, and nv
heart stopped beating. | would
have called out, but my tongue was
hot and dry and stuck to the root
of my mouth. finally managed to
spring toward the door. At that
instant the rattlesnske darted hle
head forward with vicious spring,
landing between Joe's fingers. AT
the same instant Joe dropped the
constructors head and sprang from
the cage to the ground.
WSuck your hand, quick
shouted, 'and here's some vhiskey
Don't waste a minute, man. Time
is precious
"'What's the matter ? he asked
as though surprised at my CON
mand.
"'Matter enough. You're bitten
by rattler.'
"'Not quite 80 bad as that, be
said, with a little laugh. ut hi
the bottle in my hand. Pm no,
touched. That's nothing. | dldn'I
think you saw it,
Ml,m not a coward by nature,
continued the doctor as he reached
for his hat, "but | felt as weak ~
any baby when Joe stopped talk
ing, and the next man who expect'
to 90 into a rattlesnske cage will
my consent must chloroform M
first"