Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-13
SOME QUEER ANNALS.
A Big Rattlesnake, n Huge Alligator an
Liou-Faced Monkey.

Big Rattlesnake, q Huge Alligator and q
Lisn-Faced Monkey.
There was silence in the menagerie. The
birds had ceased their warbling; the parrots
had hushed THAR idle chatter, and the monkeys,
tired Of their gyrations, had curled up and gone
to sleep.
All Of sudden there was tiny squeak on
top Of the rabbit cage, and the keeper touched
the reporter on the arm and moved on tip toe
to where the box rested from which the tiny
squeak came.
The box was Of the ordinary variety, covered
over with heavy wire netting of small mesh.
Inside all was dark and the reporter was
about to ask what II was used for, when O SOUND
like the singing Of whole colony Of locusts
came from its depths
Its big rattlesnake," said the keeper as he
turned up the gas. The light put his snake
ship IN bad humor, for he dropped the mouse
he had just caught and prepared to strike,
curling in a moment and rafting vigorously.
when stretched his full length said the
keeper, .'he measures about nine feet He is a
jim dandy; the largest I ever saw, and his
record Is bad one. He came originally from
Montana, and spent the first year OF his captiv-
ity with circus. Then he fell into the hands
OF side Snowman. One day, while exhibiting
him at fair. a countryman suggested that the
offered purse Of IS to any one putting their
hand In the box. The lad from the
pillow thought he would win that William,
as they call bills Of that denomination, and
opened the door and patted his snakeship
on the head. He won the SIS. Not satisfied
and desiring to impress the crowd he lifted the
big fellow out. Instantly he struck on the
feshy par. of the hand, and before medical as
sistance could be summoned he was
dead. Web. the snake was recaptured
and the next day struck his keeper. 1t didn't
kill him, however, for he filed up with bad
whisky and the poison was counteracted. You
would be astonished at his appetite. Why, 1t
costs more to feed him than II does a horse.
In the first place he will not eat thing unless
it is alive, and feed him on rabbits, sparrows.
pigeons and mice. Rats he won't touch. Would
you like to see him fed?"
The reporter said yes, and the keeper went to
the pigeon cage and took out big blue pigeon
that had been strutting about, rernarking: you
have been TRYING to impress the rest of these
pigeons with your greatness. Now I'll show
you how insignificant you are" The poor bird
fluttered and struggled to get away, but it was
no use. Against the rattlesnake he was pushed
and 1t startled the big fellow. Up went his
head, broad and fiat his eyes distended and his
jaws spread out - each side. A moment, and
with the precision of a marksman he struck
the pigeon back of the neck and all was over.
"He was pretty hungry" said the keeper.
Usually he takes his time and charms the bird
before striking When put rabbit or guinea
pig in there he is happy. 1t is his favorite
food
u hear steam escaping somewhere, said the
reporter, as that peculiar kissing noise broke
the silence
That's not steam, said the attendant, sits
the man-eating alligator snoring. Come on,
let's 60 see him."
Out in the stable the attendant led the way.
In II great long box, lined inside with tin, slept
for hot +hah folt
name.
He measures fourteen feet and Is the largest
one ever captured alive. At time ne was a
denizen of the st. Johns river in Florida Re-
Gently he ate up a little colored boy who was
playing on the bank of the river. Mr.. McGraw
formerly of this city, decided upon capture
and while the big fellow slept he was lassOed
and pulled ashore. 1t took a team of four
horses to do the work. letter describing the
capture says the alligator made a lively fght
breaking a mans leg in the scrimmage.
Just then the alligator woke no and yawned.
His mouth opened gradually, showing a fine set
Of molars. The attendant pushed stick in the
cage and took the diameter of his mouth. 1t
measured twenty-three inches
while these animals are very instructive
they are not near SO scarce as the lion-faced
monkey.
I'm the monkey room this little fellow is king.
He can make more noise than any two of the
others and attracts considerable attention. In
appearance he is a perfect counterpart of lion
on small scale. This ia the most interesting
OF the monkey family and are very rare"