The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-23
FLORIDA RATTLEsNAKEs.
Prove Too Vicious for the Health of a
New York Charmer.
From the New York Times.

Prove Too Vicious for the Health of
New York Charmer.
From the New York Times.
dot" Sonwell, the young woman
whose speciality in handling venOmous
snakes, was bitten yesterday afternoon in
the back of the neck by a huge rattle
snake in a Fourteenth street museum.
Mrs. Sonweu had just recovered from a
severe bite inflicted by a diamond
backed rattlesnake, one of her vicious
pets, several weeks ago, and her appear
ance yesterday was the first since her
very severe illness.
For this temperance after such n ter
rible experience and narrow escape from
death a new lot of reptiles had been Sc
cured from Florida. Mrs. SonwelIs best
act of yesterday afternoon was to have
been the mastering or charming of these
young, particularly vicious, and venom
Gus snakes.
Mrs Sonwell came on the stage soon
after , O'Clock, and stood surrounded by
a lot of cages containing her snakes A
large number of spectators was present,
and when, in the usual museum style the
Snowman had announced the young
womans complete recovery from the
snake bite, she received liberal applause
For several minutes she was kept bowling
right and left in acknowledg ment, and
then she started, triumphant and smil-
ing, to begin the performance with the
most dangerous act in it,
"Dot' went to the cage containing the
treacherous snakes, just from the free
dom of their Florida norasses. She open
ed the door while the spectators looked
on breathlesS.
No sooner were the bars to freedom re
moved than an immense diamond backed
| rattlesnake, fully five feet in length, I'm
| loosed It's sluggish coils and came with
| ing, curving, and beuding toward the
/ young snake charmer, who stood to meet
and grasp it.
When It came in reach its rattles were
sounding, its little beady eyes could be
seen aglow with anger, and its venom
tipped fangs darted out
Like fash the snake whipped itself
! into coils about the now thoroughly
alarmed young woman, raised its head
| and arched the upper part of it's body
| until its swaying head, ready to strike,
| pointed straight at her face
Still retaining some presence of mind,
| Mrs Souwell made one grasp at the rap
| idly-moving head. She missed her only
| and slender chance. The RATHER, now
more angered than before, lodged behind
! her.
For one instant it paused, and then like
! flash darted on the unfortunate young
| woman and buried its fangS deep in the
| back of her neck.
Mrs. Sonwell gave one terrible scream,
i and with the Shiny coils about her fell to
! the floor unconscious.
Attendants hurried to her rescue from
! all parts of the house. There was great
| excitement among the spectators, and
| with many escape was the first thing
| thought Of The other snakes in the
| open cage might escape. For a few min
| uteN there was a small panic.
! Attendants with long sticks prodded
/ the snaIke and finally drove it to it's cage
! The other reptiles, which wore Just be
| Shining TO take The opportunity To escape,
were quickly secured.
/ Mrs. Sonwell, still unconscious. was re
moved to her dressmg-rDom. While
/ medical Eclp was coming, Il lad employed
/ in the variety company at the museum
/ sucked the venom frOm the wound.
] WHISKY in largn quantities was forced
1 into the unconscious woman's mouth. A
/ carriage was called and Mrs. Sonwell
! was driven hastily to her home at Is
/ South Washington Square
The news had spread to the street, and
| crowds of excited persons pressed close to
/ the doors of the museum and about the
| carriage.
An ambulance was summoned from St
'ANNi4t a. i'NH t'i'nA' anu ~ l"Oi' al ~ GU at
! Mrs Sonwell's home. Meanwhile the
| usual accOmpaniments of snake poison
/ had set in. and Mrs Sonwell's head and
| neck began 10 swell frlghuully- DIR.
herrlgan mad her removed at once To the
! hospital
At late hour last night she was in a
most precariOus condition. She was IN
| conscious, aud the swelling of her head
| and neck had continued so that it was
/ inpossible to applv bandages 10 the
/ wound.
The physicians think her recovery
| doubtful They saw she will probably be