The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-25
A REAL, LIVE SNAKE.
One Was Seen Upon the Streets of Richmond
Yesterday.

Some dozen or more Richmonders had
the Snakes yesterday. If they didn't
have them they thought they had. 1t
al; arose from the discovery of real
snake in Seventh Street between Mar
shall and Clay about three O'Clock. The
real snake was q hefty looking RATHER,
with four rslttles, which he wiggled quite
chcerfulIy as he scudded across the side
walk and attempted to evade the blows
of one small boy with a long plank: Fin
ally the unequal combat ended in favor
o. the small boy, who bore his fallen foe
Off the field of battle clinginS cheerfully
to his tail.
His snakeshp was discovered by a man
who wasn't quite certain that he saw It,
This man had made a quick tour Of the
cafes in and around Broad and Seventh
Streets and was Flooding his way with
q friend northward along Seventh Street.
Suddenly he stopped and gazed ahead.
.'rhat's funny" he said, half to him
self. Thought I saw a snake"
Great Caesar!'' exclaimed the other,
who was not as far along the road to
inebriation as his friend, lit is a snake
You drunk too?' inquired the inc
briated one.
NO; confound it, that's SNAKE said
the other
"Ah, come on. No snake there. Only
think you see it. I've been that way lots
O tines" and the drunken one started
placidly ahead. About this time His
snakeship called himself together some
what and was coiling up to do business
should it become necessary. The sober
ono yanked the other back very suddenly,
Whereupon the drunken one was offended.
Il tell you there's no snake there. and
I'll prove it,. he declared. I've been
that way lots O. times, I tell YOU"
About this time there came up behind
them, WhiStling as he came, a negro man
OF some forty years He was called over.
Say, now, my frend,'' said the drunken
enc, do you see a snake over there?'
.'Goo-o-o-o-od Lawdy!' exclaimed the
regro. He is still running.
Whole durn town is drunk opined
the inebriated one. Disgrace to a city
when two gentlemen can't go along the
street without seeing snakes; awful bad
drinks in this town.
CROWD GATHERED.
BY this time other persons had gather
ed, among them a small boy with a long
plank. There was no possibility of the
small boy being drunk and he has al
lowed to poke his snakeship with the
plank. At length his snakeship decided
that Richmond was getting rather warm
for him and started in the direction OF
Danville. The crowd scattered unani-
mousy. The small boy chased the snake
and poked him a discouraSing few until
at length his snakeship thought it be-
hooveG him to protect himself and he
stopped and coiled up to strike Tee
small boy struck first and the snake was
reduced from a living, breathing crea-
ture to "a has been. Then the small boy
| went over and picked up his snakeship
| by the tale.
"Darned if it doesn't lools like a snake 2
said the inebriated one. IIe was getting
| sober rapidly.
"Retcherneck.'' said the boy.
Here. kid, lenme put my hands on
| it," said the drunken man. The boy COM
piled with the request Now the drunken
| man has sworn off for year
when I get so can't tell a real snake
| from visionary snake he explained,
lit is UP to me to reform or do some
| thing.
Meanwhile, there is considerable spec
| u1ation as to how a real live rattle snake
| got into Richmond. This one was CON
| siderably ahead of schedule time and
| there is no figuring out just where he
came from.