Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-23
Two-:ieadpd Snake

The New York JTorid says: cone OF
the most interesting tenants Of the biz
Fuller Building, in Jersey City, is live
two-headed snake. II is eusconccd in q
pasteboard box among a lot Of earth
and withcrcd leaves-a miniature repro
duclion of its original crawling grounds,
Way down in old Nirginny." Earle
B. Silvers owns the freak. Hundreds
call at his drug store daily TO see the
reptile.
1t is a comparatively little snake.
The body isiust little short of eleven
inches in length and about one-hali
inch in diameter ut the thickest part.
It is dark, almost black, and is marked
with dainty white bands about the
body. The twin heads are apparently
both of the same size, and each is at
tachrd to its own neck that branches
out like the letter "Y." Each hea !, in
Guiding its neck, is about un inch i'll
length. The creature has four eyes and
two mouths.
As it crawls about lis tiny forked
tongues dart out atintervals. Repeated
observations have warranted the con-
clusion that each head has its own way
to the extent of its reach. A sudden
tap on the box attracts ali four of the
jet black eyes, however, and both heads
are turned detiantly towards the object
OF attention.
The snake began shedding lis skin
day or two ago and the left head com
pleted the process first. The right head
last night looked somewhat unkempt,
but its toilet Will soon be up to the
mark.
The snake was found by DR.. SIlvers
on the historic field Of Charlottesville
about ten days ago He had gone there
on shooting trip with his friend,
dentist G. N. Merritt, of Jersey City.
While driving from Fredericksburg the
colored driver, ST, " careicssly dropped
Or. Siver's gun between the spokcs Of
the wagon wheel. The gun stock was
smashed and Dr. S5ilvcrs had TO say
goodbye TO his hopes Of a fall bag.
Mr.. Merritt good-naturcdly offered 10
take turns in using the other gun, but
the o1crwas declined DR.. Siivers said
he would look for battle relies. Soon
he called Mr.. Merritt and The colored
man. He had pinned the snake to the
ground with a small foiked stick. He
asked the coiored man if he had ever
seen anything ike il?
Isl" stood gazing at the snake, grow
ing deathly pale. a; last he cried out
"On, Lordy Use hoodo0ed this time
for sure ~ He started oil Oh the run.
The two hunters were unable 10
coax him back for fully ten minutes.
Dr.. Silvers dropped the snake into one
of the barrels of his disabled gun. Then
ST recovered from the shock.
The proprietor of the Chancei!ors
Vile Hous" at Fredericksburg furnish
ed a wide-mouth bottle for the creature
and citizens tLr0nged the barr0om to
sec it. Before DR.. Silyers had reached
Washington he had been offered snug
sums for his prize, but be refused them
all. He took the snake to the
Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
Prof Leonhard Stegnger and others
went into ecstacies over the freak and
wanted it. None Of the scientists
seemed able to identify the snake ms TO
lis species. One Of them thought it
was baby king snake, while others
thought it was king or milk snake.
The professors thought ii was venomous
on account of the shape of its head.
They advised that care I've taken III
handling it. DIR. Silvers was asked to
keep them informed about the freak.
They hope TO secure ii tor preservation.
1t will probably reach them some day.
DR.. Silvers says the change to Jersey
City has apparently done the snake
good. 1t is active and thriving, al
though it has not eaten anything so far
as known. fla little dish Of milk or
water is placed in its box it speedily
climbs into the liquid and lies there
contentcdly until disturbed. When
lifted up by a lead penci! it coils about
it instantly and helds on with consid-
cradle tenacity