Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-25
SNAKE LOOSE IN A cAsLE-cAR
1t Caused No End Of Excitement ~ oet
ting Around woman's Ankle.
- VT rr--.ya A0rtt 1ifbl

1t is well for Mrs. Regina Schmidt that
her habits are exemplary, for no one VIII
credit the. story OF her experiences IN
a Third-avenue cable-car yesterday TO tpe
festive. capering Coburger book or the
fiery Bourbon stock She saw snakes. and
she has any number OF witnesses 10
corroborate all she cares to say on the
subject.
True, after she had been in horrid peril
for some time but one snake could be
found to kill. Mrs. Schmidt and those
about her were. however, justified In be-
lieving that there were more than one,
SO rapidly did the head and tail wriglle
In and out under her petticoats. IT was
a peculiar experience for so staid per-
son as Mrs. Schmidt to have in broad
daylight in the heart OF the city.
She was riding up town in car No. 10
OF the Third-avenue line at about half
past o'clock. With her was younGer
woman. who positively refused to give
her name when questioned after the TX
element had to some extent subsidhd.
They were intensity interested in dis
cussion of spring fashions, bargains, and
the weather, when the car stopped at
Twenty-ninth street. The grip had caught
the cable again, and the car was follow
ing In the long upward procession. when
Mrs. Schmidt gasped, cutting short her
rhapsody on cadet-blue silk waists.
WOMANLIKE, SHE SCREAMED.
Her silence was momentary. then she
used her lungs, and evolved a quick sue
cesson OF ouchs, abs, and obs. To the
establishment OF the onlookers. she seized
her skirt and pulled 1t up far above the
tops of her shoes. When she saw the
-ft L.. 40 ii l.>,,I
than before. and extended her right foot.
None OF the passengers in ~ car who
glanced down at her pudgy ankle believed
| for one moment that IL was extended for
any coquettish purpose 1t could not have
been exhibited for such u cause with the
accompaniment of yels.
What looked like the end of n garter
| hung down near the shoe-top-far lower
| than the real article is usually attached.
1t moved and wriggled in most uncom-
| Portable way, and it had a moist, sliIny
| appearance.
| Mrs. Schmidts nerves were strong
enough to save her from fainting. but as
she recognized the intruder as snake.
| she howled with vehemence that sent u
| thrill through the car.
Take 1t OFF, she screamed.
| There was a sudden spasm Of virtuous
modesty among the score of men quite
| foreign as a usual thing TO male riders
| I'm the Third-avenue cable-cars. They
| looked at the encircled ankle. but not enc
| reached down to play hero 10 MIS-
Schmidts maiden distress. She squirnsed
her leg and kicked.
| There was a great opportunity Tor nc
| ton, and IL was a man of aristocrauc
| men who took II. He wore high hat
| with a mourning band long frock coat,
| I moustache and goatee. and he carried
| heavy cane. Jumping up from his seat
| diaconally across the aisle from Mrs.
Schmidt he pointed his cane towards the
! snakes head. and lunged forward. lie
| missed the snake. but landed with great
| force on the knees of Mrs. Schmdts com
! RAMON who raised her voice in uni@on
| with the tones of her frightened friend.
| The man staggered on, stepped on the
toes OF two or three other persons, ana
| then came to a stop In the middle OF
| the car and looked around savagely 10
| see whose laughter was breaking In on
the chorus of groans.
THE SNAKE WAS KILLED.
Everybody knew by this time fhat
| there was a snake loose. The word had
| gone around i'm a jify. The car had been
| stopped and the gripman was pushing
| his way inside, armed with his great IRON
| levers. heavy enough to crush the biggest
| boa-constrictor to be found in South
] America.
Mrs. Schmidt had no cause 70 thank
any Of the men In the car for her rele tse'
| The snake, which had probably been as
| much frightened as any OF the wofhen
! present, had been shaken to the gro:ind
| by her exertions. and lay squirminS when
| the grpman crushed it under his levers.
| The mangled remains were slowed care
| fully away in box, and the trip was
J resumed The snake was of the garter
variety. and perfectly harmless.
The through passengers were still as
| cussing the event, and wondering what
| countryman had brought the snake 10
the city In his basket of garden-trueK'
when they were shaken up In COLLISION
| Car No. liz was just ahead of No. 46 n
heavy rung fell on the rails near Ninety
| fourth street from wagon that was
turning of the track, and No. liz VAS
derailed. So close was No. 40 at the
time that the snake-killing gripman was
unable to stop, and he ran into the o'her
car with a bump that knocked down
several men, The damage done to the
cars was small.