Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-09-14
MISSED BY A RATHER.
An frciS ecalled by DIR. Conkiin. Of
Park Menngerie.


II would rather almost treat any
sick animal in the world than a sick
snake" said DIR. Conklin Of the Cen
trail Park menagerie TO a reporter the
other day. Not that | mind handling
asnake particularly, but OH account OF
the accidents that are likely to hap
pen.
"A few years ago." continued the
doctor, II had an experience in treat
ing a sick boa constructor that will last
me until the end of my life. We had
at that time a big cage of boa con-
strictors and several poisonous snakes
as well in the lion house. Very often
a snakes mouth becomes sore, and il
is necessary TO rub medicines between
its jaws TO save its life. | prepared
some medicine and went into the
house one night with a new attendant
we had just hired. This young mans
name was Joe, and he had been a
snake performer with a travelling
menagerie. The sides of the cage
were of glass, as they are now,
and inside were about forty
snakes Of all kinds. There were a
dozen big constructors, a python or
two, and a score of rattlers, moccasius
and copperheads. AS Joe began rat.
Ting the door of the cage the inmates
woke up, and when they saw the light
they were ready for a fight. The sick
snake lay at the other end of the cage.
The usual way in such cases is to
throw a rope moose over the snakes
head and drag him to the cage door.
Then his head is drawn out and cover.
ed with a meal bag or piece of carpet.
After that it is easy enough to catch
him back Of tho 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 r~attlers and
other small snakes were twisted to-
gether in a squirming tangle in the
upper end of the cage, and the sick
constructor vas threshing his big tail
about like a dying whale.
"Tll go inside, MIR. Conklin,' said
Joe, and give it to him there. Iaint
afraid Of any snake that ever crawled.'
Before | could stop him he sprang
into the cage and grabbed the con.
strictor back Of the head, opening his
mouth a yard wide, it seemed TO me
Then he took the bottle in his left
hand and proceeded TO rub the sore
spots. OF course he was busy watch
ing his patient and didn't have eyes
for anything else. But it was differ
ent with me Isaw one of the biggest
rattlers coiled for a spring. If he bit
Joe it would be certain death, and in.
side of a fraction of a second the blow
would be struck. My blood seemed
TO turn into ice water. My head swan
round and round, and my heart stop
ped beating. | would have called out,
but my tongue was hot, dry and stuck
TO the roof of my mouth. | finally
manage to spring toward the door.
At that instant the rattlesnake darted
his head forward with a vicious
spring, landing between Joe's fingers.
At the same instant Joe dropped the
constructors bead and sprang from
the cage to the ground.
Suck your hand, quick, / shouted,
and here's some whisky. Don't waste
a minute, man. Time is precious
whats the matterf" he asked, as
though surprised at my conduct.
Matter enough. You're bitten by
a rather
Not quite as bad as that he said,
with a little laugh. 1t hit the bottle
in my hand, I'm not touched. That's
nothing. didn't think you saw it,
I'm not a coward by nature" con.
tinued the doctor as he reached for
his hat, ''but | felt as weak as a baby
when Joe stopped talking. and the
next man who expects TO go into a
rattlesnake cage with my consent
must ch~loroform me irst.'-New York
Sun.