New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-17
IT MEANS DEATH THIS TIME.
DOT SONWELL, SNAKE CHARMER
BITTEN AGAIN By A RATTLESNAKE,
SHE WAS JUST RECOVERING FROM THE ATrACD
OF AN ANGRY SERPENT THREE WEEKS AGO
HER STRENGTH WAS NOT EQUAL TO
THE TASK YE-TERDAY-No

THE TASK YE-TERDAY-No
HOPE OF HER LIFE
" Dot" Sonwell, the attractive charmer of snakeo
| in Hubers Museum, Fast Fourteenth-st., has
probably tempted death for the last time A
black rattlcsna)le fastened his fangs in her heah
yesterday, and she lies dying OH cot IN
st. Vincent's Hospital, her face swollen and
distorted beyond recognition. Only three weeks
ago. as she twirled snake above her head, she
felt in her 'ann the sharp sting of the serpent
But George NJ. Jansen. an "ex-snake charmer,s
quickly and tightly bound mp the arm below tho
place of the wound, thus stopping the circulation
of the blood Then he administered a quantity
OF whlskey as IN antidote, and when Dot
reached tie New-York Hospital later in the day.
danger of death had passed. But the wound was
an ugly one and kept her indoors until yestes.
day afternoon.
Mr. Jansen. the superintendent OF the musean.
was surprised when the woman turned up yester.
day afternoon lie said that her face was pale
and drawn; her lips trembled as she spoke
Do you thnl; you're strong enough 70 On on.
my dear? ?' asked the rnana,cr.
= Oh, yes; can get through il somehow, an.
swerd the girl ." / must earn bread for The
babies at home"
Five minutes later I" Dot Sonwoll. resplendent
IN her stage dress, calmly stepped on the plat
form big wooden box, made in three com.
partments. was by her side Bending down sba
lifted two or three OF the common brown snakes
and stood erect. holding them above her head
twisting them around in her hand The resuls
OF the trial seemed 10 satisfy her that her
strength would carry her through Replacing
the Drown snakes in the first compartments of
the box. she stood still for minute looking
steadiastly down upon the black, Shiny menster
curled uD i'm comma rt rnanf NJ I, ,yos N .~-.;
men OF the diamond-backed rattIesnake, common
enough IN Florida and OF three that hal
peen sent to her about week ago The snake
slowly reared his head and looked at the woman.
'Ecn she caught tho reptile by the throat
ana dragged il out of the box Her strong
supple hngers clutched the wrthinq body, and
lor moment she stood, her head thrown back
her hgure erect and with every muscle dis
ended, her arms held high above her heal
her fwo hands gesping the wriggling.
twisting creature. v3inly striving 70 get free
suddenly the erect figure swayed, shrank and
bent forward limp and motionless as the ser.
pent with one sharp, convulsive Jerk, twisted
out OF her grasp and fastened his fangs in her
neck. Then 1t dropped to the floor Jansen's
arms stretched 10 the woman AS She fell
forward The freaks" cried out, for they
knew what had happened. Actors and audience
ran ran forward and two mon tried to suck the
Even "a they carried her ont Of the building the
neck and face had begun TO swell and blacken
ana, ana before & she had reached her home delrium
Dr [. NJ. Baker. The testh had touched her
flesh at a point behind the right ear, and the
doctor saw that the case was desperate. In an
ing, to 81. vinccnt's Hospital. The poison had
done its work quickly Her neck and face were
Ins mass ;, Of dscoloration and She presently
in her death.