The Portland daily press., 1893-07-18
FOR THE BABIES AT HOME,
The Snake Charmer, Still Weak from a
Similar Experience. Returned to Work,
Was Bitten and Will Die.

New YORK, July 17.-ssDot'' Sonwell,
the attractive charmer of snakes, in HUI
ber's Museum, East Fourteenth street,
has probably tempted death for the last
time. A black rattlesnake fastened his
fangs in her flesh yesterday, and she
now lies dying on cot in St. Vincent's S
Hospital, her face swollen and distorted
beyond recognition. Only three weeks
ago, as she twirled snake above her
head, she felt in her arm the sharp sting
of the serpent. But George M. Jansen,
an "ex-snake charmer," quickly and
tightly bound I'D the arm below the
place of the wound, thus stopping the
circulation of the blood Then he ad-
ministered quantity of whiskey as an
antidote, and when s'Dot' reached the
New York hospital later in the day, dan
ger of death had passed. But the wound
was an ugly one and kept her indoors
until yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Jansen, the superintendent of the
museum, was surprised when the wom-
an turned up yesterday afternoon. He
said that her face was pale and drawn:
her lips trembled as she spoke.
do you think you're strong enough
to go on, my dear?" asked the manager.
"Oh, yes; can get through it some
how,' answered the girl. II must earn
bread for the babies at home.''
Five minutes later dot Sonwell, re-
splendent in her stage dress, calmly
stepped on the platform. A big wooden
box, made in three compartments, was
by her side. Bending down, she lifted
two or three of the common brown
snakes and stood erect, holding them
above her head, twisting them around in
her hand. The result of the trial seemed
to satisfy her that her strength would
carry her through. Replacing the brown
snakes in the first compartment of the
box, she stood still for minute, looking
steadfastly down upon the black, slimv
monster ourled up in compartment No.
2. 1t was specimen of the diamond
backed rattlesnake, common in Florida.
one of three that had been sent to her
about a week ago. The snake SLOWLY
reared his head and looked at the woman.
Then she caught the reptile by the
throat and dragged it out of the box.
Her strong, supple fingers clutched the
writhing body, and for moment she
stood, her head thrown back, her figure
erect and with every muscle distended.
her arms held high above her head, her
two hands grasping the wriggling, twist
ing creature, vainly striving to get free.
Suddenly the erect figure swayed.
shrank and bent forward, limp and mo-
tionless, as the serpent, with one sharp
convulsive jerk, twisted out of her grasp
and fastened his fangs in her neck. Then
it dropped to the floor. Jansen's arms
were stretched to the woman as she fell
forward. The freaks cried out, for
they knew what had happened. Actors
and audience ran forward: and two men
tried to suck the poison from the wound.
But they were too late. Even as they
carried her out of the building the neck
and face had begun to swell and
blacken and before she reached her home
delirium held her. Her husband, John
Sonwell, brough DR.. c. NJ. Baker. The
teeth had touched her flesh at point be
hind the right ear, and the doctor saw
that the case was desperate. In an am
bulance she was taken, fighting and
screaming, to st. Vincents Hospital.
The poison had done It's work quickly.
Her neck and face were one mass of dis
coioration, and she presently lapsed in
to insensibiaity whick will end only in
lar death