The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-14
MEN WRESTLE WITH PYTHON.
SNAKE STORY OUT or THE
BIOLOGICAL PARK.
BIGGEST Rca Of the Eunch was Gct'ing .
Strangle Hold on Head Keeper snyder
when Help Came -rroposch Doctor.
inx Of Python's Sore Mouth Postponed.

When Isclp Came-FrOpOsCM Doctor'
,px Of rython's Sore Mouth Postponed.
Out Of the New York Geological Park. in
The Bronx, there came, last night me
story of fight with snakes.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning, ac-
oording 10 the keepers, Curator Raymond l..
Ditmars set out TO perform an operation
on the biggest OF the ythons. The reptile
il more than twenty-five feet long. weighs
2tO pounds, ard, even when hi isn't full
of snake dinner. Inns Z rotundity OF some
80 inchee, mostly muscle.
Some time ago-in fat, several years
ago--the python developed an al 'ess. or
core Of some malignant sort, in his mouth.
In 1900 twelve men, led by Mr.. Ditmars,
went into the python's cage, and by main
force held him until some solution calou
lated to cure the sore had been applied.
The twelve men had a comparatively easy
time OF it.
The other day il was noticed that the
python's sore mouth had rot been com
pletely cured, and it was determined to
perform another operation on the big fellow.
Mr.. Ditnars came to the conclusion that
five men could handle the big fellow without
trouble and decided to limit his force to
that number
Mr.. Ditmars and his assistant, Michael
O'Keefc, went into the curttors Office
to mix up a solution they intended to
use. Meanwhile Head Keeper Edward c.
Snyder and his assistants, George Null
yihill and John Tuomey, went into the
reptile house to get things ready.
At that time the big python and three
companions were cOiled up in squirming
mass In one corner of the cage. Snyder,
according to the account OF the afair as
given to the reporters, opened the door
OF the cage and went in with couple OF
heavy blankets, which he threw over the
snakes. Then he began to feel around
for the head Of the big python, He finally
found it and, turning up little corner OF
the blankets, reached in and got his hands
upon the snakes neck.
Then Mulvihill and Tuomey jumped
into the cage They had two things to do.
to drag the big python out and at the same
time keep the other three from getting
out TO make trouble. They soon had their
hands very full.
As they related it, the three men had got
when the reptile wound his tail around
Snyder legs and began to squeeze as only
good, healthy python can. Mulvihill
and Tuomey were attending to the three
snakes that were still under the blanket,
but they had to drop that to keep the big
python from getting his coil around Snyders
waist In the wrestling one OF the men
| accidentally kicked the door OF the cage
| shut.
The door is self-locking and couldn't
be opened from the inside. The men began
| to shout for aid There was not a soul in
| the reptile house and the door Of Mr.. Dit
marss Office was closed and neither he nor
| O'Keefe heard the shouts. One of the men
| in the cage reached into Snyder's pocket
| in lull in the fight and got Snyder's emer-
gency whistle. Blasts on that didn't bring
| any answer.
| The curator and O'Keefe finished mixing
up their snake medicine In time and came
over to the reptile house, several feet away.
When they reached it the fight was at its
best Ditmars and Q'keefe jumped into
the cage and joined in.
| The i've men soon had the big snake sub
| dued Ditnlars hit 1t on the head and
stunned it 80 that it was easy to take its
| coil OF Snyder's legs. Then. the other
snakes being kept under the blankets. the
| men hauled the big one out Of the cage
head first
| The snake came out W it'll such rush that
he got away from his captors and began
to suurm around on the floor in lively
shape. Snyder, however, jumped on the
snakes head, put his coat over it and man
! aged to hold to the reptile until the other
men went to his assistance.
Then, when they had looked into the
; snakes mouth they decided that his abscess
wasn't bad enough to be treated at once,
anyway. So they put him back. They
had some trouble doing that too.