Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-03-02
THE CANNiBAL SNAKE.
He Had Wonderful Appetite and Tried
to Satisfy 1t,

to Satisfy 1t.
The Cincinnati ZOO has a canniltal
snake. The fact was discovered Satnr-
day, when his snakeship was caught il.
the act.
Superintendent Stephan some months
ago placed in one of the large glass
cages used for reptiles in the carnivora
q lot Of about % snakes of different
kinds. There were couple of Florida
gopher snakes and number of house
snakes, garter snakes, black snakes and
others.
Besides these there was fine specl-
men Of Pine snake, ~ feet long The
Pine snake is of a cream color, long and
graceful. and made striking contrast
with the glossy blue black of the 60
pher. Some months ago one of the house
snakes disappeared. Superintendent Ste
phan asked the keepers about the dis
appearance. but they could not account
fer it. About two weeks later another
snake disappeared. One after another
the house snakes disappeared, but no
explanation could be had.
Recently it was noticed that the gar
ter snakes were decreasing in number,
and one by one they disappeared. The
superintendent took young Meyer, son
of the old keeper, and who was new
hand, to task for his apparent neglect
but Meyer maintained his innocence.
well, they don evaporate, and they
are disappearing one by one, " said the
superintendent.
In time tho garter snakes all disap-
peared, and the black snakes began TO
take their departure in the same mysti-
flying way
Stephan mado c careful examination
of the glass cage for about the twonti-
eth time, but could find no place where
they could escape The airholes were
all covered with wire screens, and the
traps for feeding were i'll good shape.
This was about two weeks ago, and
Stephan was beginning to think that
the keepers were more careful. Satur-
day morning he walked up to the cage,
and this time the cream colored pine
snake was not in sight. The gophers
were twisted up in coil in one corner.
but the pine snake could not be seen.
He called to young Meyer:
Where is that pine snake?"
81 am sure | don't know" said the
young keeper as he came forward to the
cage.
You let him out when you tended
them this morning
''No, he was there then, and l left
him there. y
well, if he was there then and ain t
there now. who else could have let him
out?''
81 am sure don't know. He may be
there now, twisted up with' the GO
piers.
Meyer produced long pole and reach
ed with it into the cage. He turned
over the roll of snakes,
There he isl'' he cried as a fash of
cream color lit up the dark background.
He yanked the pile out to the front Of
the cage, when queer sight confronted
him, which solved the whole problem
But one-half of the pine snake was yisi-
bic, and that protruding out of the
mouth of one of the gophers
THAT gopher is a cannibal, said
Stephan.
Eyes, and that's how the snakes have
been getting out of the cage without my
letting him out, said Meyer.
Haul them out. and let's try to save
tho pine, " said Stephan.
The hook was thrown behind them,
and gopher and pine snake were drag
ged out into a large tin pan. 1t would
hot do to make pull OF the tails of tho
two snakes, as that would break the fangs
of the gopher and prevent his feeding.
Stephan then took lead pencil and
with it pried open the gopher's mouth.
He then inserted another pencil behind
the fangs and pulled out the pine snake.
They We're then placed in separate cages
and fed upon "A liberal allowance OF
milk For few hours it was doubtful
if the pine snake would get well, but
no revived in tho evening and is now
out of danger.
The cannibal is now kept in cage by
himself as an especial attraction The
gopher is foot shorter than the pine
snake. Cincinnati Post.