Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-29
SPRING SNAKE YARNS.
Reptiles That Have Come Back to Life
to Perform Marvellous Feats.

Reptiles That Have Come Back co Lilo
to Perform Marvellous Feats.
speaking of snakes. did you ever
see one swallow live fish?" The
speaker was one of a party OF gentlemen
who had just finished a.oottle OF wine,
In the presence of an Indianapolis
Journal reporter. As none of them
had ever seen the performance referred
to, he proceeded to describe 1t In graphic
style. When he got through, Judge ).
said:-
"Wfen I lived in Texas, we used to
depend mainly On snakes for our eggs. I"
what" said an elderly gentleman,
who was a little hard Of hearing, did
you eat snakes eggs?"
Not by a jugful," said the Judge,
'but we found hens eggs in the snakes.
You see snakes are very fond OF eggs,
and down there they make business
of hunting for eggs. They would go
from one nest to another, swallowing
egg after egg, until they could hold no
more, and when they were too full to
move they were easily captured. As
they swallowed the eggs whole, 1t
would be a good while before the con-
tents would be hurt, and IL the snake
was killed before the she'll was digested,
the eggs would be all right. / once
took 1913 fresh hens eggs from one
snake. AS l knew the snake had stolen
the eggs, l mad no conjunction about
stealing from him."
"Did you eat them ALP" asked the
elderly gentleman.
"Oh, no" was the reply. 81 only ate
two or three dozen, and traded the rest
for tobacco"
"Were the eggs in pile when you
cut the snake open?" asked the elderly
gentleman, as If in search of truth.
NO" replied the Judge, "they were
lying in a row leng thways in the snakes
stomach"
But" suggested the elderly gentle
man, 193 eggs lying in a row length
wise would make pretty long line"
"Well," replied the Judge, this was
long snake"
This reminded a little bald-headed
man OF Il snake story, well, gentle
men," he said, "you can believe it or
not, but have seen a snake swallow
live goat"
81 guess you mean a rabbit, Philip"
said the Judge.
''No, sir, 1 mean goat" was the re-
ply. Then he went on to describe the
operation; how the snake first charmed
the goat then shot a stream OF slime,
covering it all over, then got it in its
mouth, and finally swallowed 1t alive
and kicking, hoof, horns and all. He
said he could provei it, if his brother was
alive.
Up to this time an Authenticated
gentleman, with long, flowing, golden
hued whiskers, had listened In silence.
Laying down his cigar, he said:-"Well,
gentlemen. l have seen snakes, too, In
my time, and I'll tell you a true story
of what | saw one do. When | was in
Arkansas, in the lumber business, l
used to spend good deal OF the time
hunting. One day | had tracked
deer to the bank Of the Mississippi
River, and was so close on his trail
that when l got near the bank saw
him Jump into the water and strike out
for the opposite shore. To my surprise,
a huge snake jumped in after him and
commenced a hot pursuit. The snake
was not more than,fifteen yards behind
the deer, and although the latter was
swimming for life, the snake slowly
gained on him. The river was high,
and all kinds of drift were floating
down-rails, hencoops, out-house,. &c.
About the middle of the stream was a
good-slzed patch OF drift, with two
story frime house on 1t. The house was
empty, but the kitchen fire was not
out and smoke was coming from the
chimney. The deer made straight for
the patch of drift. and, by good luck,
succeeded in clambering on TO 1t.
GAS soon as he got foothold he
darted inside the house, evidently
thinking that a safe refuge from the
snake. The snake was then not more
than four or five yards from the drift,
and going at full speed. Reaching the
floating mass, he made several attempts
TO follow the deer, bat he could not get
out OF the water. Try his best, be
could not get on top OF the drift. Final
~ he seemed to change his mind and
turned and swan some distance down
stream, and then turned with his head
up stream. The deer was standing in
the front door Of the house, and l could
almost see the hair raise on his back
as the snake caught his eye. The
snake had opened It's mouth, and was
Apparently lying still In the stream,
while the clump OF drift floated toward
him. As 1t approached him, l wonder
ed what he was going to do. | thought
be would make another effort to get at
the deer. but instead Of that he just
opened his mouth about four times as
wide as it was before, and before /
knew what he was up TO he had swal-
lowed the whole sy-out-driftwood,
dwelling house, deer ana all"
After this nobody spoke for minute
or two, when the Judge ventured TO
remark that it must have been very
small house" G mot so very small, J"
said the authenticated man, "but the
breed OF snakes l am speaking OF have
very large mouths"
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