Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-26
IN THE COILS OF A PYTHON.
The Superintendent of the Cincinnati 70
Nearly Killed by the Reptile.

Nearly Killed by the Reptile.
consignment Of venomous snakes was re-
Gently received at the Cincinnati ZOO from
Texas and for lack Of other quarters il became
necessary to place them in the cage in which
are kept the boas and pythons. Before this
could be done several more small trees had TO
De placed In the cage for the serpents to coil
on. The boas and q l4-foot python had not
been fed for some time and were very active.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Stephens, the superin-
tendent, procured box in which to place the
creatures until be could prepare the cage for
them He then entered the cage, the box be-
ing left at the open door Of the cage.
He seized the snakes and had succeeded in
getting all in the box but the python. Before
moving the python stephens stopped a moment
TO watch the snakes in the box, but was startled
at fierce kissing behind him. CHANGING around,
ne saw the python coming toward him, its eyes
flashing aud its tongue darting.
Stephens saw his danger instantly. There
was no escape, and il was 20 be fight Swifter
than the serpents motion stephens grasped the
monster just back Of the neck with his right
hand. the left clutching the reptile about two
Feet further back, where the bulk " the python 8
muscular power is located.
He started TO thrust the writhing mass into
the box At the same instant the python threw
the twelve loose feet Of its body about the
superintendent's legs and began to squeeze
with ali its might. gradually but steadily NOV
ing the ever-tightening coils higher and higher.
There were a number Of spectators in the
building, long, low structure, in which the
carnivora are kept, but all were too greatly
overcome by fear TO render aid Indeed, they
could only get to the struggling man by re-
moving the box OF snakes at the entrance TO
the den.
BY this time the hyenas, tigers and leopards
were In a state of frenzy. They bounded up and
down In their cages with fendish yells. They
tore at the iron bars and beat the walls with
awful fury. The lions, all but one. roarsd I'M
III the building shook, and frightened visitors
fed panic stricken.
The one lion that remained silent was Laura,
beast that has always shown an almost hu-
man-like devotion to Mr.. Stephens. She left
her cubs in the rear. and, standing on her hind
feet. her paws against the railing, gazed fixedly
at her friend, utterly needless of the yelling
devils about her.
The uproar brought the attendants OF the
garden to the scene. They were horror stricken
at the sight. BY this time the python had
worked its folds up to Mr.. Stephens groin.
The construction was terrible.
Circulation had been stopped in the lower
limbs and they were numb and trembling. The
perspiration ran in streams from the struggling
man face His hands were moist that the
scaly thing twisted in them easily as il loose.
suddenly the serpent seemed TO feel Its. VIC
tory near. 1t twisted it's horrid head and thrust
Its fiery tongue into Mr.. Stephens face. At the
same moment one of Mr.. Stephens hands be-
came loosened. and the snake with the speed of
lightning. seized and began swallowing it
The victim was nearly overcome that for
a moment he stood tottering and the hand had
been swallowed without an effort to remove il.
The entire hand up to the wrist had disap-
peared when stephens sought to withdraw II.
The reptile mouth closed with a snap. sinking
a fang into the bone at the base of the thumb
and swapping the fang of.
The pain reused Mr.. Stephens. and with an
almost superhuman strength he caught the
snake throat with his free hand and began ia
squeeze with the energy of despair. Soon the
python gasped for breath. and as it opened it
mouth he jerked out his hand.
BY this time the attendants had secured the
snakes in the box and entered the cage, where
they beat the python until it relaxed its coils
and Mr.. Stephens was taken out and cared for
The bite Of the python is not dangerous, and
Mr.. Stephens was in no danger. but the pair
from the bite was excruciating until the follow
ing day, when the fang was found and removed
In speaking of the matter Mr.. Stephens, who
will be out in day or two, said:
1 have no doubt he might have strsngled me
As long az kept my grip there i felt conf
dent. The fangs are inclined backward and
it was impossible to free my hand without
breaking them, though I did not know had
done SO till the next day, when found the
fang in the wound"