The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
CHOKEO BY A SERPENT.
4 Thrilling Midnight Experience with a
Python Seven Feet Long.
fChicago Herald

\ Thrilling Midnight Experience with a
Python Seven Feet Long.
TCh.cago Herald.
He was short and swarthy, with small,
black eyes and jet-black, tightly waxed
mustache. He drove up to the Grand
Palace hotel ia cab last evening and
registered as Prof. Henri Belmont Of
Paris, France. Later, blue box about
the size OF an ordinary trunk and having
holes bored in the cover was deposited on
the sidewalk and under the peronal su-
pervision of the new guest, was taken to
his room.
The guests in the vicinity of room 2l3,
to which he was assigned, noticed a pecu-
liar odor in the atmosphere. which
brought back memories OF the circus and
museum. The professor during the even
ing devoted considerable attention to the
bar, and became rather communicative as
the time progressed. lie said he was the
champion snake charmer of the world,
and could capture and tame any snake.
He told stories III wooing the elusive rep
tile in its tropic home, and beguiling it by
coaxing words and sweet strains of music
from small file which he exhibited. AS
the night wore on the ruler of the snakes
waxed merry aud jocular, and finally, at
the request of his new-found acquaintance,
agreed to exhibit his pets, which were IN
the blue box. He had been working in a
dime museum in San Francisco, he said,
and was on his way to New York.
The party went up stairs to his room
and the professor proceeded to unlock the
box, which had been placed against the
steam pipes 10 keep the reptiles warm.
The unsteady hand of the owner. after
considerable poking among blankets,
fished out wriggling snake about two
feet long. This was his special pet. twas
a blacksnake, and it's gittering eyes
matched the brilliant orbs OF the professor.
The shrill shrek of the fife which the
professor began playing induced the snake
to try to stand on his tail, crawl into the
professors pocket, and finally tie itself in
knot around his neck. Several other
reptiles were taken out OF the box and
fondled by the owner, who appeared TO
really entertain an affection for them.
The visitors were permitted to take peep
at the liking of all snakes in captivity" as
the owner called il. which monopolizes
one half the box. Then the crowd went
down stairs and had several farewell
drinks, after which the professor shook
hands all around and said he was going to
bed.
Fred Newberry, who occupies room 300.
was awakened about an hour afterward by
a scufiling noise, quickly followed by cries
and shouts for help. Hastily pulling on
his clothes he ran into the hall and
knocked on the door of room 2l3, from
which the sounds came. "Hurry-he
choke-me," gasped voice, and New
her or "a
bursting 1t open. The room was dark, but
he could hear gasps and moaus of pain.
He stepped toward the bed, but with a
yell OF horror jumped back again, for mis-
bare foot had come in contact with a wrig-
Cling, Shiny snake. By this time other
doors had been opened, and the guests
were pouring into the hall. The night
clerk, William Payne, came running up
the stairs four steps at q jump. He en-
tered the room and lighted the gas. A
horrible sight was presented, and one OF
the women in the crowd tainted. Lying
on the bed, his face black from sulfocation
and his eyes bulging from his head, lay
the snake charmer. Around his limbs
and body was tightly coiled the liking Of
snakes" The diamond-shaped head was
waving to and fro, and from the horrid
mouth shot the long, black, forked tongue
in anger Some cried, "Shoot him, ""Kill
him." and one man ran into the hall
and seized the fire ak. The
smaller snakes had disappeared under
| the bed, where they were kissing
and squirming in heap. "Ontwis' hees
tall" family whispered the hali-choked
, professor. 1t seemed a case of life or
death for some zone. "I'll grab his head
while you untwist his tail" shouted New
berry, and with spring he caught the
writhing, Kissing serpent by the neck
close TO the head. 1t took all the night
clerks strength to untwist the steel-like
coils of the angry reptile. Finally the
arms Of the professor were freed, and he
grabbed the neck of the serpent, making
at the same time a Kissing noise with his
| lips. With one hand he stroked the rep
tile until he caught it firmly around the
center of the body, and with deft fling
threw it into the box end quickly shut
the lid. The work of capturing the
smaller snakes was easily accomplished.
The snake was python about seven
feet long. Perhaps it could not have
killed the snake-charmer, but IL badly
frightened him. He was politely in
formed by Mr.. Newberry that the hotel
was no dime museum, and with his box
he left the hotel. The snakes got out be-
cause the professor left the box open
while drunk. When the steam pipes got
cold the big serpent crawled into his mas
ter's bed in search OF warmth. Belmont
probably rolled on it, and this excited it's
anger.