The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-27
How Professor Hungry Cobra Into Wire Tunnel to
Food While the
Snake Picked the Scales from His Eyes,

tion-and delay in treatment in the ma
jority of cases.
The last precaution was supplied by
Prof Ditmars's assistant. John Toomey,
who fixed strap around the curator's
waist and stood behind him on the outside
of the cage, ready to jerk him out and
slam the door If anything happened.
Everything in readiness. the door Of the
cage was flung open and Prof. Ditmars
hurriedly wriggled in and clapped steel
wire cage over the. serpent's head.
The cage was half Of mesh tunnel,
sawn lengthwise 1t enclosed the cobra's
head and what was left of his still writhing
dinner.
The cobra dashed all about him and made
a frantic attempt to get rid of the black
snake and begin on Prof Ditmars. All the
while the professor was plucking through
the mesh at his left eye, trying to get
patch of the dead skin in his tweezers.
In an instant the snake had disgorged
and by single twist of his head threw the
imprisoning wire to the ceiling of his cage
and lunged savagely at Prof Ditmars, who
was dragged out of the cage Just in time.
The cobra's fangs connected with the steel
door Just as it was slammed shut.
Prof Ditmars and his assistant waited
until the monster had Gained down and
resumed his meal. Then they cautiously
recovered their wire mesh with pole and
tossed him another wriggling six-foot black
snake.
The delighted cobra began to gobble up
this last victim with enthusiasm, and again
Prof Ditmars crept into the cage. This
time the cobra could not eject his food
quickly enough, and when Prof. Ditmars
was jerked to safety he had the scales from
one eye in his forceps, while the Infatuated
snake beat the walls in rage. 1t had hurt
There still remained the other eye, and
because of the cobra's anguish and excite
ment the next operation was deferred for
a week. But with the improvement in the
snakes eyesight the second round between
Prof. Ditmars and the cobra was riskier
business than the first.
The cobra ate a six-and a half-foot black
snake with the alacrity of pie-eatfng
champion. and was ready to fight almost
before Prof Ditmars could get into the
cage. five-foot snake went the same
way. With eleven and a half feet Of din
uer in him the snake was uncomfortable.
Every time Prof. Ditmars got into the cage
he would turn so suddenly that the curator
beat the reptiles fargs to the door by an
eyelash.
After a dozen narrow escapes a more
direct method was decided upon. With
Keepers Toomey and Taggart, the curator
swung open the door unexpectedly and
threw a hickory pole over the snakes neck,
on which all three men we're bearing down
with all their strength.
But Just as Prof. Ditmars was again en-
tering the cage the snake freed himself
and shot for the door. Prof. Ditmars, with
almost equal speed, jerked himself back:
ward and tried to slam 1t as before, but
the cobra was too quick. g.
Almost two-thrds of his length were out
of the cage before the door was pushed
tight against his belly. He struck and
dashed in every direction, endeavoring q
coil himself around the body Of all til. zee
at once.
By sheer luck Prof Ditmars was able to
clutch his neck with both hands al the
outset and no one was struck with the
deadly fangs. Help was called, and after
tense moment or two the great cobra was
crammed back in his cage and the door
forced shut
Prof. Ditmars had escaped with his life
by the narrowest margin-and the un
finished task still confronts him.