Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1911 — “BIG ANNIE" IS A MOTHER [ARTICLE]

“BIG ANNIE" IS A MOTHER

Largest Snake In the Zoo Gives Birth to Fifty-Seven Offspring and All but Nino Are Living. New York.—Perhaps It was because there were only a tow visitors at the soo the other afternoon and only a few discreet attendants in the reptile house. Or maybe that bad nothing to do with it Anyway, at about three o'clock there was a portentous thrashing and writhing in the cage Big Annie. th* prise 19-foot anaconda, shares with Rex. a royal -python. Assistant Curator Ditmare beard the noise and looked in. Then he ran out and gathered up 14 keepers. “1 want you to come with me," be told them. “Big Annie to—or rather she will —Never mind, come on quick and get her out of the cage." It took only a few minutes to untangle Big Annie's 1» feet—lengthend get her In another cage. And then, beforq the legendary Jack Robinson could earn mentkm. there were 57 new little anacondas at the boo. Dr. W. Reed Blair, who was hurried over, said he'd be gosh dinged, or aootothlng Uke that, if bed ever seen the like before. Nine of the 57 didn't seem to appreciate the breathing world and left IL The others perked right up. and now they are crawling all over each other aa lively as flame. Blair said they were “doing fine." R. TL Mole, a newspaper editor In Port of Spain, Trinidad, who sent Big Annie to the boo. got on the cable almost at the moment of Annie s good fortune, and seht word that be had found the 15 foot mate of Annie, and

should he send him along. Mr. Ditmars cabled “Sure.” But if things keep on the curator fears the soo may have more anacondas than it really needs.