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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

100 years ago: 8-foot snake found in Portland piano

An 8-foot-long snake, origins unknown, was discovered in a Portland Hotel piano, and chaos ensued. (Spokesman-Review archives)

The janitor at the Hotel Oregon in Portland heard a hissing sound coming from the piano.

When he investigated, he found an 8-foot-long snake inside.

“A near-riot ensued among the assembled guests,” who were listening to a concert on a Victrola (record player).

“Women guests screamed and ran for the elevators and doors,” said the paper. “And men were loath to touch the writhing body, as the reptile lifted its head from the open lid of the instrument and hissed defiance.”

Military police arrived and enticed the snake from the piano with a piece of red flannel. They placed a loop around the snake’s head and it was “taken prisoner.” It was taken to the city zoo.

How the snake ended up inside the piano “was a mystery.”

From the drowning beat: A man fishing along the Spokane River bank saw another fisherman fall in the river. He tried to rescue the man, but he arrived too late and the man was swept into an eddy.

The victim was identified as a James Stupple, a member of the hod carrier’s union, who had been working on the new Crescent building.