Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-10-23
q Terrible Adventure.

| 4 correspondent writes from DipRdpole
LAST Friday [ went to the botanical Gardens
to SEQ my friend Mr. NJ, Tie superintendent.
| He vas, however, absent; end l wen. rouo1
tho gardens with the head gardener. Mi. j.,
who has also tho geological department to- look
after. He wanted nae to see some animals
| which he said he had tanned lately. among
others largo python Tor rock snake,) WHOM ID
placed 10 one of the cages in the aViary.. an
all | could to prevent him from enteHng Tue
cage; but what said VAS OF no avall. Al o.oV
p. II. lie called Tor the kegs, and even invited
| mo to 70 in With him. |, however, thought 1t
| far safer TO remain outside.
"nIr. s., accompanied by ono Malay attend'
snt only, Ito whom instruction had been gl7oa
to remain outside 10 tho alley, )then opened the
door of the cage in which tho enormous bGutewas
lyinr andpoeped ln. Itwas colled up in corner
but as soou az tho door was slid showed signs OF
lito. Mr. 8. began what he caIlod charming
tho snake This consisted ID working his
hands backward and forward, right and ieit,
and also q good deal OF swearing when the
or Iinal lifted his head and shovel signs OF
il.tcmper. Mr.. S. remained all the tiule 10
the allcv, not vcntllrlns to enter tho cago ooti
plctcly. lie at last took lis hat 10 his leif
hand ard pushed it at tho snake, which a!
once mado snap for it. This he kept on do
ing for some three or four minutes, TIL event.
uaIiy the brute began uncoing Itself slowly
aud lay out 90 the flooring IL figure q eight
IL was the only spectator UP to thls tlm%
when q soldier, Ito whose courage and tlmciy
assistance Mr.. s. al!crWard owed MS iIlr]
clmo up to tho aVlary, and l. askcu El"! ~
help me to persuade Mr.. 5. 10 stop thHi GA"
gerous game. lie would. however, take H.
notice OF our warning, Gnd II another moment
the python gave one terrible snap at the iias'
and, instead OF letting go as before ne'd 0"
like bulldog. MIR. S. then stlZ,k The Ali
mails neck with his hand, and Q fight began
saw this was 20 longer part of the programme,
especially as IN second tho beast had It's tsl
round MIR. SIS neck and head, and managed
to get coil Of its muscular body rourd h
chest. Mr.. S. called cui for 'Mcr, men
moro mao ! and that was all he was capable o!
saying managed to call few native attend
ants :ngnthcr, and got chopper, which tho
soldier tried to use, but without any effect on
the terrible monster. , hahn When
then wenL "a to N,o karraolta ior hSp w No't
returned to the sviary, accompanied py somc
regiment, we found that MIR. S. had been res
cuod from the folds of his 'hugglng adversary
bv the soldier, who, from his own account says
that he managed, somehow or otner, 70 Ket K,,; tn"
end of the tail oil Mr. SIS. head anu ny pu;l.nS
and getting what aid he could from the nallVes'
released him so far. Then they all began stretch
ing the python ss much as was IN thelr power
and, finding it probably hard work TO M hgnt
against so many, tho beast slackened It's hoia OF
Mr.. SIS. breast and he was pulled out by tho
legs into the alley. and the door slid back;
''Need say, Mr.. S. was quito lnsenslo!e
sent for doctor. then took him homo on
atretcher, and Mr.. NJ, and myself stayedIp with
him till one a. N. He never recoVered his sense"
up to half past sevon next morning. The bruises
across his breast were very severe, but it waa
found that no bonos had been brokon.
'Ihis rock snake is female. leng'h g n wnsn SilM
last measured twenty. three feet. said to be e'gh-
toen inches in sirth. 1t is tho property OF tina
museum, and is keptin the Zoo until in apers'''
stste for preservation? =.
This formidable animal had 2lr. .. IN il3
coils for about ten minutes
"Mr. S. denies having boon near the snake
The whole thing to him Is blank IN ms eS'S'
tence; he cannot account for the way IN Which
he spent his time on Friday evening and night.
and says it is got up story"