The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-19
SNAKE FEEDING
EDUCATIONAL
PROF. JOE EDWARDS FoRcE-FEp
GREAT INDIAN CONSTRUCTOR
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WHILE
COBRA FED ON OTHER SNAKES
MANY WITNESSED SIGHT.

Perhaps one OF the most interesting
and educational sights ever witnessed
in the city Of Fargo was the force
feeding OF a great Indian python or
constructor at the Edwards animal
show on the midway at the Interstate
fair yesterday afternoon. Great crowds
thronged the tent while Professor Ed
wards and his assistants showed ten
feet of piping down the monsters
throat.
In addition to this. the king cobra
from East India, which is the most val
liable reptile in the animal show, was
fed, This was another instructive
sight. The cobra Is the only serpent
that is known to detect the scent of
and follow man, II Is cannibalistic
in it's tendencies and lives on the
flesh of other snakes, and weekly de-
YOURS other serpents which Professor
Edwards keeps in his collection es-
specially for this purpose.
Crowds Watch Force Feeding.
Force-feeding a great reptile is a
wonderful thing to see and Professor
Edwards and his assistants fully DEM
onstrated to the crowds that gathered
about him that he understood thor
oughly the handling of such creatures.
First the long python was placed in a
box and then compelled to eat an
enormous hunk OF meat which had
been especially prepared for 1t.
AS the meat was plunged down its
throat, its body was dragged out of the
box, and finally when it had been
showed down into its stomach, a dis
lance of about ten feet from the Jaws,
1t was stretched out on the floor of
the tent and prevented from dis
gourging its food, which 1t showed a
great tendency to do.
The meat itself was bound around a
long piece Of pipe, about half an inch
in diameter, and was then thoroughly
creased with the white of an egg. as
was also the pipe itself. Then the great
monster was forced to open its jaws
and take it's food.
A constructor seldoms eats of its own
accord, and therefore 1t becomes COM
pulsory for it's keepers to feed it and
make it accept food. Sometimes these
creatures go without food for period
of ten and eleven months. The longest
time any such monster in captivity has
been known to go without food, has
been thirteen months, which is the
record held by one of the pythons in
the New York Geological gardens.
The cohra's Meal.
When the king cobra was fed, there
was great deal of excitement, as it
was feared the reptile would make a
plunge at one of the spectators or Pro-
fessor Edwards himself, as he fed 1t
the smaller snake. The cobra is very
poisonous and the death rate from CO.
bras in India is known to be $4,000 a
year.
It is stated the British government
has offered half million dollars to
anyone who will solve the problem Of
Kidding its Indian possessions OF the
cobra, which infests that country.
When the professor fed the cobra, he
selected a small coach snake from a
large collection OF smaller reptiles
which he keeps for that purpose. and
placed 1t in the cage of the king viper
Although the coach snake had been re-
posing quietly in the box with its own
kind and smuggling up closely to other
snakes, it showed the greatest fear
the instant 1t was put In the cobras
cage, and made frantic effort to get
out of the deadly reptiles presence.
But the greater creature was too
alert for 1t, and with a single action, it
bounced on it's prey and with a death
grip caught the smaller snake Just
back of the head, crushing the life al
most out of 1t with a single fling on
the floor Of the cage. A little later the
cobra took the dead snake between It's
jaws head first, without once letting go
its hold on the little creature.
This proved one of the most inter
esting features Of the day yesterday
and one that will not likely be repeat
ed, as it is not often that these crawl
ing monsters are forced-fed.
Concert and Free Attractions.
Quite q good sized crowd gathered
In the grounds last evening to see the
various free attractions given in front
of the grand stand and to hear the
fine band concert by the Putnam or
chestra The afternoon concert was
especially commendable and much of
the same programme was repeated In
the evening by request.
DIR. Putnam was particularly happy
in his selections and the music lovers
of the city, who are always apprecia-
tive OF his efforts, turned out in num-
bers to hear both concerts yesterday,
All the numbers were of a high order,
the programme including many Of the
well known classics.
All the free open-air attractions were
pulled off according to schedule and
those attending the afternoon concert
were highly entertained by the cele-
brated Russian dancers, who are said
to rank second only TO Pavlowa and
Mordkin. the marvellous Slav perform
ers who were seen for only one per-
Torrance in st. Paul and Chicag &C,
Columbus and New York last season.
The Godlewsd troupe OF imperial
Russian dancers are truly wonderful
and their excellent performance last
evening proved q great delight to all
who saw them. They are the persons
fieation Of grace and gave a wonder
fun demonstration Of their abilities.
Among the other feats seen last
night and during the afternoon pro-
gramme. were Leon Norris and his
wrestling ponies and John Hedge. This
feature was particularly pleasing and
met the approval Of everyone who saw
the performance.
The Up Side Down zuaves, the hand
and head balanceFs and the Steiner
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