The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-26
SCARED BY A BIG SNAKE.
How q Python Became Monarch of Ill
Denmark's Bilge.

How q Python Became Monarch of the
Denmark's Bilge.
New York Times.
Third Engineer Baxter, of the National
line steamship Denmark does not like
snakes. A little experience which he had
on the last westward trip of the steamer
has confirmed for good and all this natural
and inherent dislike. The Denmark is
CONSIGNMENT of P'V Wiidand do :Drlngs
animals and on this voyage she had an
unusually large number of all sorts of liv-
ing and squealing things. Among them
were forty-three French donkeys, eight
cen monkeys, one bloodhound, fourteen
fOx-hOunds, an opossom, three lemus. u
wild bush cat and a plain wild cat. But
the most important part of the animal pop
ulation was made upof two pythOns, male
and female.
The python is an extremely large and
affectiOnate snake, noted for its hugginG
capacity and its ability TO surround large
amounts of food. 1t was the female mem-
Der of this family which gave engineer
Baxter his fright. The pythons, both OF
which were about fourteen feet long and
twice as big around as mans arm, wero
packed in private boxes before embarking
on the Denmark. These boxes were eighteen
inches deep and two feet square, with Sits
in the side about half an inch wide to adj
init air and light Previous TO packing in
these boxes the snakes were given hearty
meal, each one swallowing three live rab-
bits. state of stupidity and digestion
followed, in which Mr.. and Mrs. Python
made no objection to the proposed sea w..
age They were taken on board the Den
mark, and put in warm place in the store
room on the port side of the engine-room.
The ship sailed, and all was well. The
clanking of the engine, the motion of the
ship, and possibly the added stimulant of
the French donkey chorus. assisted the pro-
cess of digestion on board Mrs. Python. At
any rate, something about the surround
ings in which she found herself induced her
v,.lE cIa Of o.
o'clock on the morning of Sunday, July IA,
the blanched and oily visage of che third
| engineer, Mr.. Baxter, was described by the
officer on the bridge peering around the
corner of the deck-house.
IF you please. sir, one of them big snakes
| is out of lis cage and is walkin' round the
| engine-room," quoth Mr.. Baxter.
| At the same time he carefully closed the
door behind him. The officer on the bridge
| at once ordered the carpenter, Mr.. Last. 10
see what he could do toward putting the
snake back. The engineer said that the
monster had pushed her head through the
| sliding door which had been put IN the side
| of her cage, and the first thing he knew the
beast was ambling over toward MIN with
/ very hungry smile.
The carpenter, accompanied by fireman,
| and armed with Ratchet, descended into
| the deserted engine-room with great eau
ton. The python was Just aiSappeaIihg
down the gangway leading to the hold.
/ Last followed, and was the hrst on the Geek
| DtlOW, WHERE lilt ldot tddt W 40 o. a. VI thO
| python was the tail, sliding down be-
| tween the hull of the ship and
the plankng Of Of, the he. deck OK The he car ar
| pvfbon's Shiny tail. But he could not get
q grin. The snake slipped away down
| under the floor of the hold into the bilge.
| No further attempt was made tn find her,
| and for all that is known TO the contrary
| she was still there when the vessel arrived.
She will be fonnd to-day. probably. when
the plates are lifted and the bilgeway
| cleared.
The monkeys. wildcats. lemurs and snakes
4 were all destined for the Central Park
| menagerie and came from Jamracl's me-
nagerie in London. The monkeys were in
very good condition. with the exception OF
one little family. This had suffered be-
reavement on the way over. An heir had
been born at sea. but died shortly after.
The father pinned away and died of grief IN
few days. the mother remaining alone
mourning her loss and refusing all conssss-