Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-09

There has been celebration In th'
reptile house of the geological PARK III
honor OF the python Fatima.
For nearly twenty months this scaly
monster has been kept alive by the OPP
GRAFTON Of pushing rabbits. pigeons ano
chickens down her throat with long
pole.
During all this time she steadily re-
fused to eat, and would have starved
to death had II not been for the com
pulsory feeding. But Fatima has sud
denly acquired an appetite Of tremen-
dous proportions. Her first voluntary
dinner In captivity consisted OF about
sixteen pounds OF chickens.
From the time OF her arrival on the
steamer Afridi. from Singapore, Fatl--
ma has evlnced the most eccentric char-
acteristics. When the Geological PARK
officials boarded the vessel to inspect
the live stock she had brought In from
the East they discovered the big snake
packed in large box. which was COW
cred with coarse wire grating.
She introduced herself by savage
lunge at the latter in which she caught
her teeth. The park officials decided
that Fatima was a fine snake-inciden-
tally one OF the largest that ever came
TO this country-and purchased her OF
the spot to grace one OF the big glass
fronted cages In the reptile house. then
building.
Fatima arrived at the Geological park
year ago last September, Pending the
completion OF the reptile house she was
placed In a big cage in the stable, where
numerous animals awaited permanent
quarters.
The cage was provided with a zinc
tank. under which an oil stove burned
steadily. furnishing the reptile tepid
bath to be used at her will Here the
monster remained for many weeks
The most tempting food was offered
her, but she steadily refused to eat
Poultry, rabits-in fact, everything cal
cuated to tickle the reptilian palate
was placed before the python at fire.
quent intervals. Time and time again
assortments of game were taken from
the cage and fed TO the alligators
Finally the park employees became so
busy preparing for the opening of the
place that the python necessarily re-
celved less care.
In short time she would be placed in
her cage In the reptile house where the
coaxlng could be resumed, and, II was
argued, having been without food for
only about five months since the time
OF her capture. which is not serious
inconvenience for snake, she must
get along for couple of weeks without
any attention.
The stove was kept burning under
her bathing tank, and Fatima, not find
ing any chance to fight her keepers, as
had been the case when they opened the
cage door to throw In the food which
she refused, piled her brown and yellow
folds one upon the other In dark cor
ner and went TO sleep.
Cold weather was approaching. AL
ready the wind from the northwest
made the nights too cold for reptilian
blood, so large stove was set up in
the stable. An exceptionally cold night
arrived, and during its midst q wolf
escaped. All the watchmen started IN
pursuit and followed the animal for a
couple Of hours. They came back UNI
successful and found the fire had gone
out
The temperature In the stable had
dropped TO within a few degrees OF the
freezing point. and the monkeys were
hugging each other In a shlverng EN-
brace. All the snakes We're motioness
Even the big lrattlesnake. which always
shook his tail vigorously as people en-
tered the stable. was silent. The watch
men hastily made up the fire, but the
damage was done.
When the park officials and keepers
arrived In the morning they found the
warm blooded animals still shivering
but alive. But some Of the snakes had
died from congestion Of the lungs
Among them was Fatimas mate. a
FN"1o".N'' smaller snake than she. hu,
nevertheless a magnificent reptile
weighing nearly two hundred pounds
But most dlscouraging Of all was the
condition OF the parks star reptile.
'Fatima lay on one side, with her
mouth wide open, and all the hostile
glitter gone from her yellow eyes. The
twenty-five foot body was collapsed
and without movement, but certain
indications showed the reptile to be
alive. Congestion Of the lungs had
swept the vitality from the powerful
brute. and. for a while II was doubtful
II the most energetic measures could re.
store IT,
Fatlma was dragged into her tank
her head was supported on big block
and the oil stove was made to do double
service. AS the water grew warmer the
body qulyered here and there. For q
week the big snake lay half dead in her
tank; then she began slowly TO recover.
Two weeks after the episode she was
so weak that when four men dragged
her from the cage TO he placed in the
reptile house, where the temperature
was more even her feeble struggles
caused them no Inconvenience Here
the reptile was placed in another tenn
porary cage, and received constant at
tentlon. One week later she moved
again. This time 1t was into the com.
modious, glass-framed cage she now
occupies From the time OF her install
lation the snake began to improve.
For six weeks the pythop's keepers
worked steadily to bring back her
health Then II was found that she
had resumed the practice OF making
cheerful lunges OF six feet or more In
their direction This was regarded as
a good sign, but the reptile was not
yet out Of danger. Her mouth was
badly "cankered." and must be cured.
Moreover, her body was covered with
an old, dry skin. which she had neg
lected TO shed, and the same must be
removed
II 10 considered impossible TO cure a
cankered mouth In big snakes, but II
was done In the case OF Fatima. A
ball OF cotton was fastened on the end