Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-23
Adventure with BCa-COnstrictor.


1t is no exaggeration to say that in this
island the latter grows to a more enor-
nous length than in any other LOCALITY.
During my soiourn in that region every
day added to my knowledge OF them;
and it was not unusual for native to
come to our host and relate how he mad
seen boa of such monsTous dimensions
that, at first, he had mistaken 1t Tor
treeI
Two days after our arrival in the island
we were called to witness most singular
sight. 1t seems that during the night
boa had managed to find entrance into a
-pen-always under the Dyak house
and had swallowed one of the choicest OF
the herd.
The result of this was to so increase the
serpents size that he was unable to retreat
through the narrow lattice. In the morn
ing the man of the house found the huge
snake IN this condition; and having sum
moned assistance soon killed him. The
reptile measured about seventeen feet IN
length.
| have only mentioned this incident as
prelude to another even more startling.
1t was not my lot to cross the path OF
many OF these creatures, simply because
L had no desire to enter the districts gen.
orally trequented by them. One en-
counter, or adventure, as we say, was act
ually forced upon me; and it was alike
unexpected and frightful
l was sitting one morning on the north
piazza of the Eastern Archipelago Com
pany's house, situated at the entrance of
the Bruni, busily talking over with my
companions the adventures of the day
previous, and admiring the delightful
scenery which doomed up on all sides.
1t was morning in spring; the air
was blowing warm and fresh, and was
heavily laden with the aroma of spices
waited from other shores. 1t was just
the sort of a day when one feels like
doing nothing and still enjoying every
thing.
Mr.. Johnson, an English missionary,
who had just been sent out to the island,
was sitting with US on the piazza. A
deer-hunt had been planned for the day;
and our rifles and bags were lying near
| by ready for use. We were awaiting the
arrival of Malay interpreter, whose pro-
| lOnged absence was, even then, getting to
be intolerable. Mr.. Johnson remarked,
casually:
Deer-hunting, suppose, must be very
| pleasant sport for those who become in
| terested in it.'
1t is" replied a gentleman of our
party, but when one sets out to hunt
deer in these quarters he generally sue
| ceeds in finding something else. One adj
venture of the sort is nothing unless it is
mixed up with half-a-dozen, more or less,
| of Others"
The gentleman had barely uttered these
words when we heard quick rustling in
the neighbOring thicket. 1t continued
! for a few seconds, and then man came
in sight and ran with full speed toward
| us.
1t was our Malay friend who had thus
made his appearance. He was out of
! breath from running, but as soon as he
could speak he exclaimed:
"Come quick! You are wantedn'
In the furry of his remarks we caught
the words, in broken English, "boa,"
"Anak" Child, "kill," etc. There was
enough said to arouse our interest and to
excite our dread.
Selling our rifles we followed the man
into the thicket. The spot to which we
were summoned was not more than three
minutes walk from the house; but the ex-
element made it seem to be almost an
| hours travel.
The thicket was dense, and in some
places almost impossible. We got safely
through at last, and emerged into a mar
row path. Following this path short
distance further sight truly terrible was
revealed to us.
We beheld huge boa-constrictor i'm
pending from the branch of a duriOn tree,
with little girl in his folds. The lower
part of the serpent's body-that is, the
part nearest the head-was partly wound
around the child's waist and shoulders,
not tightly, indeed, but with bend and
hook not unlike that of an elephants
trunk
The father and mother of the child
were on the spot; and each, with long
sticks in their hands, were endeavoring
to force the serpent to loosen its hold of its
victim.
The little girl never uttered so much as
sigh. She was about nine or ten years of
age, and by no means of slender cOnsti-
tuition To all appearances the reptile
had not afflicted any wound, neither was
the child held so firmly as to be in any
manner crushed. This was probably be-
cause the attention of the reptile was
distracted by the cries and attacks of the
parents.
But the inevitable loop of the boa was
d sure AMI unmistable cage for its pris,
oner; and this had evidently frightened
the child almost to death.
! Our arrival was signal of Joy on the
part of the poor parents, who begged US,
in an attitude of wretched despair, to save
their child
The Secretary of the Archipelago Com
pany was with us, and he understood the
situation far better than we. His expert
ence in similar encounters had taught
him the proper manner to deal with such
monsters.
Selling his rife he said: clay down
your guns and draw your swords. Every
man of you follow my directions! |
will approach the reptile and fire into his
head, if possible If fail, you come up
quickly and cash him with your swords.
| Don't come unless the serpent uncoils, and
look out for the child"
When he was about a rifles length
from the boa the latter began to raise and
depress his head. AS soon as a quiet mo-
ment was reached, the Secretary stepped
UP boldly, took deliberate aim and fired.
The serpent recoiled, and the child fell
to the ground, but the animal was by no
means dead. The ball had entered the
neck instead of the brain.
AS if determined to die hard, the boa
made plunge at the Secretary. The two
gentlemen Of our party and the Malay
| guide now rushed up and began to slash
at the serpent. The reptile kept swing
ing to and fro, like reed impelled by the
wind.
| AIthouph showing sipns of life he