Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-05-02
DANGEROUS SNAKES.
A Keeper Shows How lie Manages
His Copperhead and boa Pets.

A Keeper Shows How lie Manages
His Copperhead and Boa Pets.
There is little shop in u street on
the east side, says the New York Trib
une, where from the floor to the cell.
ing the walls are hidden by small
cages. Within the room there is an
endless chattering OF monkeys, the
shrill cries OF all kinds OF birds, the
whine of forlorn-looking dogs, and the
carping screech of guinea hens. In
one end OF the room are piled sew.
eral fiat boxes, each covered with a
blalaet. In these are snakes Of many
sorts, from the venomous cOpperhead
to the monstrous boa constructor. A
reporter who was passing the place
the other day dropped in to take
look at the shop-keeper,S interesting
collection. The dealer was extremely
good-natured, and explained in detail
all the points that he could think OF
about his stock in trade.
That part of his collection in which
he took most pride was the snakes. He
could not find praise enough for his
"beauties," as he called them. Rails
ing the lid OF each box he pointed out
the characteristics OF his dangerous
pets. The spots OF this one made him
unusually valuable, and the rings,
stripes, and tails OF others showed that
they were not common, every day
snakes. With evident pride he would
dwell upon the fight he had had to
capture an ugly "rattler," the age OF
another. But he was particularly fond
of a copperhead snake which he Offer
cd to take from his box.
His manner of approaching his pet
was somewhat novel. Wrapping a
heavy piece of canvas about his hand
he thrust his arm under tho partly
raised cover and began to thrash about
in furious manner. He would give
the snake half dozen sudden heavy
blows and then clutch at him, all the
while crying out between his teeth:
Down there, you rascal; be still there;
now I've got you" He explained be-
tween his cries that he was trying to
get hold of the snakes neck. Finally
he drew forth his arm, and there,
writhing in his grasp, was the long,
lank body OF the snake. He held it up
by the neck and deity loosened the
canvas, allowing it to fall to the floor.
With his naked fingers closed tightly
about the snakes throat he turned
around and held it high in the air in
glee. The snakes eyes were flashing
wickedly; the blood-red forked tongue,
tipped with black, darted out like
lightning. while the plant body now
became rigid and now twined itself
about the mans arm until 1t worked
down TO the wrist, where it closed in
like a rubber band, causing the veins
in the keepers arm to bulge forth
swollen and dark. All the while the
man only laughed at its vicious strug-
giles, swapping it out like whip when
it loosened its hold, and again shaking
it roughly. At length he threw the
copperhead heavily into the box, sud-
denly slamming down the cover.
That fellow" he said, .is the
wickedest, most ugly-tempered snake
/ ever owned. He is always ready to
fight" While holding the copperhead
he had opened its month and showed
two wicked-looking teeth. This
snake" ne added, sis the one which
bit young fellow in here. The boy
took the cover off the box and flirted a
handkerchief at the comprehend. I
told him to mind what he was doing,
but he kept on until the snake struck
at him. The snakes fangs took hold
of the boys hands and he chung there
until we beat him almost to death. The
boy was lucky ever to get we'll.
Now" said the keeper going to an
other box, "here is one as different
from the copperhead as can be. You
see he would not fight anyway" and
he pulled out ponderous boa con-
strictor and dropped him heavily to
the floor. "Looll at him." he said.
giving him a lively kick; "he doesn't
mind it bit; tame as kitten"
He then pushed the heavy body all
over the floor, jostling it and shaking
it up. The great head rose at times,
but the man paid no attention to this.
"Now," he said, watch me make him
mad; he does not like to be dragged
backward" He seized the boa's tail
and began pulling him around the
room. At this the boa raised his head
threatingly and squirmed around at a
lively rate. He certainly looked as
If he might do some mischief, and the
reporter edged toward the door.
"Oh, he couldn't hurt you," the
keeper said, reassuringly. HE
doesn't bite, you know" But as the
boa raised his head again, with fierce
glitter in his eye, the reporter hastily
thanked the man for his kindness and
made for the street.
nanoipo at EGUbtv-fiua