The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21

The Bark Atlantico. Serpent Laden, Arrived
from Brazilian Waters.

From The NeD orleans Times. Democrat.
In the gtay Of yesterday morhing a little,
Portuguese bark came numbering 3lowlyup the
river and mode fast at the wharf at the head
Of Washington street. The dim.nutive vessel
was the .htlantiro. hailing froE Para. Brazil,
and while ordinarily such a craft would attract
no special attention, her advent has been the:
subject Of anxious discussion on the part OF
the er!i:e inspection corps Of the New Orleanai
Custom House.
The reason for such unusual solicitude was
the fact that the cargo OF the Atlantico Is CONF
posed almost entirely Of snakes. According toy
the manifest she carried 4l8 assorted serpents.,
ranging in size from mail tropical garter
snakes to large adult boa constructors. all being
the property OF one joe Renhi and Mme.i
chnrmers. late, of Paris. l
Atlantico arrived Off Quarantine. Accordingly
% to e e Tfyu dr n9s n Hp throSsS S'2 ofila wh'c eha snSsiSs.
leisurely over the side OF The bark and yssj
constructor rose suddenly out OF an open crate
and protruded a tongue that looked like q redj
a shrek that was audible, as far as the Jump!
and WAS out on the, ladder in exactly twQ5
and UD%" signed tn the riIedse si imm "S nanG " after ireaaSSF
ing the station has since been denied. but h91
Withdrew very abruptly. and at once spread1
the news that a ship full Of snakes was lying lna
the channel. y
The master Of the bark was a swarthy spans,
lard named Adolnho Palao. and with considera1
BE dithcnl'E he In informed the inspectors thsSSs
the city by rail. Meanwhile the couple had1
| found their way to the Custom House. wher9l
they were seen by "a reporter and their stor1a
Kenhi isa dark skinned. excitable little mans'
and his wife Is a small. sturdy woman of thai
rative they have been collecting snakes for exc
hibition purposes for the last twenty years. and
" "Ssr Europe. The reptiles on Hl board the At33Ii
!%antico were caught in the forests OF Brazil. and,
tropics. The largest Of the lot is a boa, con-
strictor. which Renhi declares ia as larg I'd
ar% ,%at4a a. IS h a ,, Wsis sn5 pnd s.: ;1Sn in mItrss t lSSeg mo A.s
ster would measure about 80 feet. This wasy
the least that startled the officer ut the Quar-
I've smiled from Para on April, s." said,l
lRcnhi, and had a quiet voyage. have only
New Orleans, and no doubt some oil, them are,
d de .i,n Th" hiY t 9Ga was mos out 1t, Yesterday sm day. and ntdd II
the Tip very wycii. they were fed just beforsI
we started and have h@d nothing to eat eincsII
Iulrn food more than once every few months.!L
How DO | catSSn them 2, continEed the be little
G irS,.'r no troublS iinndinss" f item MIN ID t the forest
where they live, The smaller snakes pin to
the ground by the neck with a forked stick and.
head apI thrust them, Gu'cki in a sack, M1
Is not difficult when one knows bow. some;.
'llli'S i 'h''i pii' 'iltN !, 49, vi NV NHAN
Il that case ,aEe no c]hanccT, but stab Il i9
wher" ! can, reach i The big boa took three
men to nand!n T. WE ca4sht It in a net, but y,
got away, The snakes | use for exhibition I.
tame and teach TO obey me. Tho best for ths
F Irgo sSak %t' , hat g eraMs abn 6yt" six S Feet i SEas
They ar yery inteii'I%nt and are not narq 70
t ts3I to @,'s sIa ,h tn NV S@I 2 0rIc %m9 + Tor m y Month or or
two. and shall then go 70 New York. and from
there TO Paris. where | have an engagemenb
When the Reporter asked Nine. Remit whether
shc was afraid OF snakes she laughed Viva%
"Afraid!' she exclaimed, and why2. There,
Is no harm when you know how TO handle.
kittens. and have much snort, with them. I
have been hclpirg my husband ever since he
woods when he hunts for new stock; ! have
caught many snakes In my hands. All that 10.
o'T%T%isys o. 20 m be G Eat 4 f bP6ks Sgo arm the or G Fib.
The bons are very strong. but they are slow
and it is easy to evade them.
tionM." W S aSn TIN n,TG the h mada 9n@Ne9. S sST SthnSa:
Wc got them for museums and public gardens.
Europe. and have brought hack some very
large Doas.. These snakes we have now we goo
are in New Orleans we will see what ones have
d!ic.d. and doctor any that may b" sick; some
OF the others We Will begin 10 tame and train"
As Renhi and his wife have no Intention OF
leaving any OF their interesting cargo in this
iH asinSd' tES ,] T, ! t Pe ffr roe ~ au sS S' The 'S Customs sna
schedule provides a tariff o! 20 per cent. on
live snakes - considered as merchandise, but
snakes used as tools, i in The language Of the
Law, N" admitted free, provided they are ex-
ported within a period OF six months. After
considerable consultation at the Custom House
yesterday II was declIcd to classify Renhi's
snakes as tools. In addition tothe original 4l5
Brazilian S%erpnnts. seven new ones were cap
tur"d near Port Eads while the bark lay In
Quarantine. The, native snakes, were also
given the benefit OF the doubt and listed as ims
Elements oftrade. Renhi stated thathe yaluSAi
the entire collection 1T 20.oO0 francs; 80
I,iGO- . .1'~ --sII