Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1920 — SERPENT KILLS TRAINER WHILE CROWD CHEERS [ARTICLE]

SERPENT KILLS TRAINER WHILE CROWD CHEERS

Geneva, May 31.—Applause from a large audienee resounded in the little theatre at Serbruck, near here on Thursday while a gigantic Python slowly crushed its trainer to death. -The trainer, a Hungarian girl, whose name was Ciro, realized her peril and shrieked for help as the coils of the serpent closed about her but the audience believed. her cries were part of the entertainment and cheered loudly. Fraulein Ciro’s manager rushed on the stage and shot the snake, but not until the young woman was beyond help. It was not until after the performance was over that the people were apprised of the fact they had witnessed a gruesome tragedy.