Evening star., 1901-06-05
FED PYTHON BY FORCE.
A Thfrty-One-FoOt Snake Breaks His
Eight Weeks Fast
From the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald
Long Tom" the big python, had another
meal yesterday. 1t was breakfast, lunch
and dinner combined and the first for eight
weeks He was not consulted about the
matter. not until he found himself securely
held did he realize that he was up once
more for food.
Eight weeks is a long period between
meals for any one but Long Tom. He holds
record few would wish to struggle for. 1t
is not case of disappointed love- or vIo-
lent attack of despondency developing into
suicidal mania, taking the form of death
by starvation; simply the fact that he is
in captivity. and maybe doesn't like his
boarding house.
He lay in his cage yesterday morning.
coiied upon the platform apart from the
tank. his eyes closed Not an inch of his
BIZ feet Of sinewy body showed the slight
est sign of life. but he was beautiful to
look upon. To look at snake from the
safe side of a heavy plate-glass cage is one
thing and to stand beside him in the open.
with only the hands of men to protect you,
is another. The thought that he was to be
taken from the tank and held while food
was thrust down his throat sent certain
thrill through the body not exactly pleas
ant.
Hold him straight. now, be sure! Don't
let him form the 'S. If you do. it's all up
with everybody shouted some one who
reassuring. Standing at the tank was
Beatrix Roderico. or. she is more ia
miliarly known. ''Trixie" the snake charm
er. The glass came off and the snake
raised It's head. In ha> n ''Trixie'' had
covered it with a cloth. and. holding fast.
drew the monster out slowly. The men
filed In and took hold. one on each side
shoulder to shoulder. hugging close to their
bodies the writhing form Of Long Tom
The snake was taken from the tank much
as one would tug to draw out a long
strip of large hose
Long Tom held by the arms of his score
or more attendants. was straightened out
for the application of the "stuffing process
he alone INDUCES. Just as would stuff
a pillow. or more likely a bed roll with
feathers just SO was this snake stuffed
with rabbits. Trixie held his head while
next to her. holding the snake, were Walter
Fox. Frank Prior and Roger Davis, while
Charlie Bunker, a man of some weight, was
put upon the tail, very important part
of a python in such a fix. should he sue
ceed in getting it free.
To guard against canker. Long Tom 9
mouth had to be washed out with a weak
solution of carbolic acid and water. He
didn't appear to desire such a douche and
held his mouth tightly closed. 'Trixie' soon
overcame that difficulty by force when she
discovered that one of his teeth was loose
Holding the snakes head with one hand
she reached for hairpin. and with this
feminine instrument played dentist with
success. The mouth washed, 1t became
lunch time.
j. t. Benson appeared with a bamboo pole
nine feet long. On the end of this in a strip
were the five rabbits The whole meal
hanging from the pole perhaps four
feet long. When a snake eats of its own
volition it unlocks its jaws. This will per-
nit the eating of animals of almost any
SIZE. Long Tom was not hungry, and re-
fused to give up the key, so the rabbits
had to be prepared in such form as would
permit of their being pushed down his
throat.
When the end Of this string of rabbits
was placed in his mouth Long Tom began
to make himself felt. His great body
swayed and the men. strong as they were,
had hard work to keep the body straight
Once in. the process of ''stuffing' was slow
danger of injuring the snake and difficulty
In holding him entering into the quest ion
in no small measure. Gradually the body
grew as the rabbits were forced down the
throat, and after twenty minutes of the
hardest kind of work the pole was with
drawn. and Long Toms lunch was over.
His mouth was washed again, and then be-
gan the journey to the tank.
He had come out head first he went back
tail first. and coiled up as each man let
CO. His head was dropped, and the glass
front went up in a fash, the men wiping
the perspiration from their faces with
signs of relief.
To feed a snake by the stuffing process
does not always mean that he will retain
the nourishment, so there was some anxiety
relt concerning Long Toms general dis
position for food When, after an hours
wait the snake was seen drinking as If he
enjoyed 1t, fears to the success of the
mornings work were dispelled.