Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-05-04
sNaKE AND WOLF FIGHT
Terrible Midnight Encounter Re
,xveen Two or Barnum's Pets.

Terrible Midnight Encounter BE-
,ween Two Of Barnum's Pets.
The stroke Of the midnight bell had
scarcely died last night says the New
York Morning Journal, when there was a
commotion inside Of a long, deep chest
that stood Just inside the wolves cage
in the Madison Square Garden. Hardly
INV was about save the night Waterman
and Superintendent George Conklln VINO
has charge OF the animals and never
seems TO sleep.
The chest spoken of was heavy, and
resting on a support that was not strong
enough to bear the weight. A prelim'
mary cracking gave warning that the
foundation was giving way, but there
were no ears in reach TO heed.
A moment or two later the supports
gave way and the chest toppled over on
its side, the lid flying open and remaining
80. What seemed like a yellow flash
followed the opening Of the lid, anc a
sinuous body waved and darted, with
open mouth at fancied enemies. 1t was
the biggest shake in the collection OF
Mile Juneta, the snake Charmer, that
had thus escaped from his quarters.
Seeing that no enemies were torment
ing him and recovering his lost temper,
he dragged himself lazily from he box.
With the dim light of tickering gas JET
glintipg on his shiny back the snake made
his way toward the VOLTS den. EN-
bracing one of the wheels he gradually
made his way upward, and was jus
dragging his tail across the iron bars u
the top of the wagon, when one or tht
wolves spied ii. With a snar. he leapet
for the bars and took a firm grip on the
snake with his teeth.
In an instant the scene changed from
quiet to pandemonium, the other wolves
bowling and dashing themselves against
the bars in a fury of rage, while the
huge body of the snake waved and
twisted like q willow wand in the hands
Of a drum major.
Its body was useless below where the
wolf had griped it, but quickly looping
itself around the iron brake-road, IL man
aged to get a coil around the wolf neck
BY this lime, which was not more than
three seconds from the time the first
noise was heard, Mr.. CODklin was run.
ming toward the scene of the accident.
A glance at the overturned box AND
the sight before aim was all that was
necessary.
Bring the etbert' he yelled to an as
s~istant, who quickly obcyed. The wolf
eyes were protruding from his head and
the bones could almost be heard 10 crack
as the snake exerled It's great strength.
The snakes eyes glitlered and lis awe
moved nervously from the pain the VOL
was inflicting. but both were nearly mo
tiOnless.
A sponge saturated with ether was ap
piled Oh the ind of II pole TO The nostrllI
Of each combatant, and in a few seconds
the snake fell in an inert heap on tn
floor, just as the wo { released his grasp
reeling from side 10 side The snake
wound. which was eerious, was nurriedl.
dressed by Mr. Conklin and the reptll'
was hustled into his box before he recov
cred.
Mr.. Coni lin then entered the VOL
cage ard revived the other fighter wit
ammonia and found him very weak, bu
unhurt, with the exception Of "a lacere
ton of HIS nose. where ii had bee
crushed against the iron bars. The
peace again settled over the garden.