The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-11
HUGE SNAKES IN RATTLE.
A Startling Contest, In which a WO-
man Had Part.

From the New York Times.
A battle royal between two huge snakes
and an attempt on the part of the surviv-
ing reptile to count a woman among its
victims were the cause of a great deal of
excitement yesterday afternoon among the
visitors to the "Grand Spring Show"
otherwise the miniature German county
fair, now being held at Sulzer's Harlem
River park, at One Hundred and Twenty
seventh street and Second avenue.
The two snakes We're a 1O-foot anaconda
and an 8lh-fOot cross between a python
and boa constructor. They were brought
down yesterday morning to do duty in
the menagerie, which forms part of the
Midway Plaisance arrangement at the
fair, and were placed In charge OF Mile
Madeleine, a professional snake charmer.
In private life she - known as Mrs. W.
A. Robinson. She weighs 296 pounds, and
Is the wife Of a midget IS inches in hight
and 30 pounds weight.
She ordered the box containing her two
pets placed In recess Of the menagerle
prior to their Introduction to the audience
The close quarters, however, did not suit
the anaconda. and II must have concluded
that by swallowing its room mate there
would be more room for itself. Suddenly
there was a commoton on the inside Of
the box that brought over Mile Madeleine
la a hurry She found the two snakes in
tertwined so that II was hard TO tell
which was which. The anaconda was
making frantic efforts to get the boa's
head into It's wide-open Jaws, and the boa,
on the other hand, was contracting its
muscles around the body Of the enemy
with strength born Of despair.
Mile. Madeleine made quick dive into
the box through the glass lid, which had
been broken IN the melee. and seized the
boa al the back Of its head with one
hand while with her other hand she
clutchod the anaconda In the same spot.
With all her might she began tugging
away but 20 no purpose. The snakes
then wound themselves around her body
During the struggle one Of the womans
hands dropped, and quick as a fash the
boa turned and bit her hand, making
deep flesh wound.
This attack made Mile. Madeline re-
lax her hold on the snakes. She dropped
them IN a hurry. The anaconda twisted
itself with renewed vigor around tho
boa's body, and with n spasmodic sudden
jerk finally succeeded IN breaking It's en-
einy's back.
Mile. Madeline calmly ordered an at
tendant 10 send for a doctor, while she
prepared 10 replace the victor In the
box. But the victor WAS not quite ready
10 return IL again Jumped on the stout
woman before Il. With her hand bleeding
prOfusely. but with an unrufied temper.
Mile. Madeline again grappled with the
snake. and after n few minutes manoeuv-
ring succeeded In shaking Il on.
All this time the onlookers had been
standing around watching the triple bat
tie. but with the ten-foot snake free they
began 90 fall over each other IN their de-
sire 10 put as much space between them
selves and the snake as possible. The
small panic spread beyond the confines
Of tho menagerie, and soon the cry In
German Of look out for snakes" recov-
berated throughout the park.
II took some time 10 quiet the crowd.
but with the assistance OF several Of the
bankers iu front OF the sideshows and
other crers Of Etentorian voice. the people
we're finally treasured that all danger was
past. Those who FIRST vcntured into the