New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-09
& sCsnbat with an Anaconda.

AZ the earliestpossible moment after camp had
been pitched, says the late Captain Spoke, hum
WAS set afoot, and Captain Grant, myself and som,
bss angs
arrived, except a few hippopottami, and we were
therefore, obliged to await tile coming of some
/ palat&ble game. Our patience, however, was
severely taxed, ana. after long delay, we were
| tlant, perched in tree about half mile distant
began viewing his blanket This was signal that
game WAS approaching. We Immediately drew
int cover, and awaited the coming of the latter.
We wore not long delayed. for presently long
column Of animals from the elephant to the hoo
doc, appeared In view, Hotting at good pace to
the river. Their fanks were soon presented to US,
and sack selecting his object, fired. McColl shot
2 dne yenng buffalo COW, whilst Capt. Grant was
equally successful with q hoodoo, and several
spears, east by our attendants stopped the career
Of one " two different animals Of the herd.
At this juncture, however, occurred an unex-
pectea adventure, that finished our sport at least
Tor that day. I,had sprung forward Immediately
after firing. in order 70 obtain fair shot at huge
elephant, that i wanted to bring down on account
Of his immense tusks: got the desired. aim, and
pulled the trigger OF my second barrel. at the
moment Of MY doing SO, q wild cry Of alarm, 1T.
tered by one Of the blacks, called my attention
CHANGING around, my eye CHANGED to range up in
the foliage Of the tree beneath which Capt. Grant
MY feelings may possibly be imagined, as beheld
an enormous boa constructor, whose head and
neck, projected some distance into view, slowed
that he was about to make q fatal spring.
, IT. a direotion was certainly toward me and IS
he flashed from his position like a thunderbolt. I
gave myself up. for ere aid could reach me, the
foldso the monster would have crushed my strong
frame into auivering pulp. 4 felt seemingly
caught Q 'Rhirlwind Of dust, and strange indie.
scrihable scnQle ensued. 81
10 the midst Of this strife I suddenly became
conscious of the presence Of second victim. and
ven after the time that has elapsed since then,
still rccoliect with what vigidness the thought
hot across my mind that this second victim was
apt. Grant my noble companion. AT last, after
BEING whirled about for several seconds, each
econd seemed 10 ho intermnable, there ensued
ull, Stiffness as of death, and opened my eyes,
'xpectihg To look upon those unexplored land
capes which are seen only in the country beyond
ne tomb. Instead Of that, / saw Capt. Grant
eyeling his rifle toward me- while standing beside
nm were the blacks In every conceivable attitude
It the most intense suspense.
But II moment c0mprehended all. The huge
sserpent had struck young buffalo COW, between
nm and which had unluckily placed myself, at
Nh moment OF firing upon the elephant, most
N. good fortune had attended me, however
,v 81 HsIeau 0f being crushed into mangled mass
besn ans COW, my forearm only had
sssn csngnt "a between the bufalo's body and 1
sin a9 icld of she constructor. s
nc l.nD iala Just IN front Of tile shoulder at
flesh into which II was ianlmed a il era nv nc
II Immense pressure of The sernent, BODY No thai
y was Ike IRON N harness, Dsl' " = sA's
~ fssW drant about to shoot a terror nossas.
sed Me, iof II ne Tefrained might nossihiy
escape after the boa released his solas srn
dead cow. But should no are ana stsssa M Wy
Lile II would In its commissions cruEh ar Sro
Q pieces Even as thisidea came to ma hsh LIZ
rant pause. He appeared to comprehend al,
ie could see how was situated that was stiii
living, aud that my delivery depended On the vii
II the constructor. We could see every line az,
ach Others face, SO close were we, and i wonid
ave shouted or speken, or eren whispered 10 him L
ad dared. Bat the boa's head wns reared within
few inches of mine, and the wink Of an eyeHd |
1onld perhaps settle my doom, 60 stared--like I
dead pan, at Grant and at the blacks.
Presently the serpent began very gradually to
siax his folds, aud after tightening them several
mes, as the crushed bnfl;.ls qntycred he unwound
ne fold entirely. Thus he paused. The next
mike band was the one that held me prisoner |
nd Is felt 1t little BY little unciuspng my heart
toGd still with hope and fear. Perhaps upon be /
" freed. the benHmbed arm, xsfcontrotied by my l
~, might fail from the elshion-lke bed in which /
iay. And such nshap might bring the spare
e'a around my neck or cksst. akd then farewell
9 we seurces Of the Mile. Oh, how hardly, how
i sspafstety struggled to command myseif /
.nsco ~ Grant and saw him banding his rifle
Nh " "a glanced al the negroes and saw them
e , Y tne serpents iethsns head and saw
#, ss ~ nsay eyes, wasehiag fur the least sign
M ut, y s 5ss prey Nov, then. The reptile 0oss
Il s''s tou on my arm hair s brerfih aud navy H
"a s; *, nVls, sh " hai an inch separated nv arm
n, h Il yss s sAth. could have wapped Oat | d
~ alna ~ gaIed pot take the risk Atoms 81 4
~ .tenlselyes into ages. and minute h
soiiou etesnty ltseli! Tie second fold was No
iossa enIlfeiy' aud the next one was easinr | n