The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-23
SNAKE SWALLOWED THE CUB.
The Latter Takeu Out Alive from the
Reptiles

The Latter Takeu Out Alive from tho
Reptiles Stomach.
mckinley" a cub lion, was doing
beside the stove in the winter quar-
tiers of a circus in Argentine, says the
Kansas City Journal. Around the
room were the animal cages contain
ing the 1.-THE creatures of the jungle
placidly passing the time away waiting
for the circus season to open. Not far
from the little sleeping lion cub stood
several large boxes of snakes, which
have to be kept heal to the stove to
prevent the reptiles from freezing.
Thre was not a human being in h
room. 1t was as still as death. Sud
denly the head of a large South Ameri-
can boa constructor appeared above
OF the boxes. 1t rose slowly up into
the air until about two feet of it's body
was insight. Its evil little eyes spark
led, and it twisted it's head and looked
around the room until it beheld the
sleeping cub. Then it's head dropped
over the side of the box and began
moving across the floor. Yard after
yard of snake came out Of the box. 1t
was a monster reptile and it moved
cautiously and with it's eyes still fas-
tened on "Mckinley.'' The snake
lion cub when, it paused. The cubs
tail was closest to the snake. 1t glided
closer yet and then drew the tail into
it's mouth. AS the tail disappeared the
snake drew closer and closer to the
cubs body and then with a wide
spreading of it's jaws it took in the
entire mind quarters of the cub. INC
kinley' aWOke and began to cry in a
p%laintive voice. Swiftly it's body dis
appeared and louder grew it's cries.
The mother Of the only lion cub corn
in captivity in the United States heard
the walls of her offspring and be-
tween the bars of her cage compre
hended the situation at a glance. She
sprang to the bars and let out a roar
that brought every animal in every
cage to it's feet and pandemonium
broke loose. The mother of NC
Ill 1oo 1lSSSoullLly, "lllS lllC
lions Joined in the chorus: even the
sea lions beloved and soon the ele-
plants began to trumpet. Only "Mc-
Kinley' was silent. All of his body
had passed inside the snakes jaws ex-
cept a small part of his head and his
front paws. There was a self-satisfed
look on the snakes face. The turmoil
Of the animals reached the circus at
taches in another building and they
ran quickly to the scene. They COM
pretended matters at a glance. One
of them ran to the elephants, which
were Juggling at their chains and still
trumpeting, and with an iron prod
quieted them. Others tried to extri-
cate mckinley" The snake, like a
miserable coward, tried to sneak away,
but was caught and held. Then one
man caught "McKinley' by the paws
and other men held the snake and all
pulled together. "McKinley' stayed
where he was. He either refused or
couldn't come out. Occasionally a lit
tie more of him slipped inside. Mat
tiers were approaching a crisis. It was
either the life of the snake or the cuh
A quick consultation was held and if
was decided to sacrifice the South
American native. Knives were pro-
duced and the snake was cut in two.
When the blades penetrated it's flesh
it seemed to realize it's position and
struggled with it's captors, the men
finally falling upon it and holding if
still. The snake was handicapped by
it's meal. 1t did not take long to sever
the body and they then tried to Dull
the II through, but it stuck and stuck
tight. 1t was necessary to split the
snakes jaws and pry them apart be-
fore the cub could be released. Then
mckinley" was taken out. He was
nearer dead than alive. The snake
was n that had been with the show
for many years.. The cub is one Of
twins born just prior to the last cleo
ton. Being born in captivity and an
exceptionally fine specimen he was
highly priced. Last November. inst
prior to the election, one of the lions
gave birth to two whelps. Both were
males, and in keeping with the spirit
or the times one was named Bryan the
other Mckinley. Just before election
the cub called Bryan sickened and
died. Mckinley, on the contrary grew
sleek and fat and met with no mishap
until the snake %escapade. After the
attendants had given mckinley" .
oath and a careful rubbing he annearod