The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-19
THE SNAKE SWALLOWED THE Gun.
The latter Taken Out Alive From
the Reptiles stomach.

From the Kansas City Journal.
Mckinley" a cub lion, was doing be-
side the stove in the winter quarters OF
Lemen Bros circus, in Argentine. yester-
day morning. Around the room were the
animal cages containing the 1.-the crea-
lures of the Jungle placidly passing the
time away awaiting 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 near TO the
stove to prevent the reptiles from freez-
Ing. There was not human being In the
room. 1t was as still as death.
Suddenly the head of a large South
American boa constructor appeared above
one of the boxes. 1t rose slowly up into
the air until about two feet of its body
was in sight. It's evil little eyes sparkled
and IL twisted its head and looked around
the room until IL beheId the sleeping cub
Then its head dropped over the side of the
box and began moving across the floor.
yard after yard of snake came out of the
boN IL was monster reptile and 1t moved
cautiously and with its eyes still fastened
on Mckinley The snake moved up to
within few feet of the lion cub, when It
paused. The cubs tail was closest TO the
snake. IL glided closer yet and then drew
the tail into it's mouth. AS the tail disap-
peared the snake drew closer and closer
TO the cubs body, and then with a wide
spreading of its jaws it took in the entire
headquarters Of the cub. Mckinley
awoke and began to cry in a plaintiva
voice. Swiftly its body disappeared and
louder grew its cries. The mother of the
only lion cub born in captivity In the Unit
ed States heard the walls Of her Offspring
and looking between the bars of her cage
comprehended the situation at a glance
She sprang to the bars and let out a roar
that brought every animal ia every cage
TO it's feet, and pandemonium broke loose
The mother Of Mckinley roared inces-
sanity, while the lions Joined in the cho-
rus; even the sea lions beloved and soon
the elephants began to trumpet
Only mckinley" was silent. All OF his
body had passed inside the snakes laws
except small part of his head and his
'front.' paws. There was a self-satished
look on the snakes face The turmoil OF
the animals reached the circus attaches
IN another building and then ran quickly
70 the scene. They comprehended mat
tiers at glance. One of them ran 70 the
elephants, which were Juggling at their
chains and still trumpeting, and with an
iron prod quieted them. Others tried to
extricate Mckinley" The snake, like a
miserable coward. tried to sneak away.
but was caught and held. Then one man
caught hChluley Dy the paws ana other
men held the snake and they all pulled
together. Mckinley stayed where he
was. He either refused or couldn't come
out Occasionally a little more OF MIN
slipped inside. Matters were approaching
crisis. II was either the life of the
snake or the cub. A quick consultation
was held, and II was decided TO sacrifice
the South American native. Knives were
procured and the snake was cut In two
When the blades penetrated Its flesh IL
seemed to realize its position and strug-
gled with Its captors, the men finally fall
ing upon It and holding IL still The
snake was handicapped by its meal II
did not take long TO sever the body ana
then they tried TO pull the cub through.
but II stuck and stuck tight 1t was
necessary to split the snakes flaws and
pry them apart before the cub could be
released. Then Mckinley" was taken
out. He was nearer dead than alive.
The snake was one that had been with
the show for many years. The cub IL
one of twins born Just prior to the last
election. Being born In captivity and an
exceptionally fine specimen he was highly
priced. Last November, just prior to
the election, one of the lions gave birth
to two whelps. Both were males. and in
keeping with the spirit OF 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 escapade OF yester-
day.
Last evening" after the attendants had
given Mckinley" a bath and a careful
rubbing, he appeared TO be quite recov-
cred from the squeezing process she had
undergone and gamboled about the build
ing quite as happy and care free as ever