Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-05-28
Aerpentlne Executions.

At II NJ. as a reporter made his usual
round to the depot, at Dayton, Ohio, a
strange character was pointed out to him
in the gentleman's waiting room. 1t was
an aged sailor who had come from Lansing,
Mich, and was on his way to New Orleans
to end his days on the element more snited
to his taste than the land. Attracted by
his appearance, the reporter accosted him
with few inquiries, and in brief time
obtained story of adventure in his wan
dering that Is marvellous in its hidcoushess.
He said that one of his aptest Illustrations
Of savage barbaritv that he had ever seen
was in the Serpent's Valley, in New Gui-
nea. 1t was dangerous undertaking to
travel through this valley, but we had
heard so much Of it we had determined to
go through at all hazard. AS we stood at
the entrance to give our ponies "blow,"
and then proceeded to enter 1t, was struck
very much by the great height Of the trees.
but my guide regarded them as nothing at
all, as he had probably seen them hun
dred times before. Their clear stems ran
up nearly 100 feet before the limbs began
+ to appear on them, and they were very
thick Here too were many palm trees,
whose feather like plumes gave graceful
appearance to the whole valley. There
was also large tree flower near by, which
was bright scarlet, hung suspended in
! long folding pendants from the branches.
At a distance yone might easily imagine
! these trees to be on fire, and was Nost in
admiration as contemplated these things,
and as we continued up the valley new
I beauties opened to US.
stop. beware, sailor! cried my guide
in warning tones.
| stopped impulsively, and looking fol-.
ward under his direction, saw an immense
snake cured up at the foot of the tree il
front Of us. | could not judge Of Its length
but il must have been very great. Another
and another of the coils were pointed ou
to me, and had an unpleasant sensation
of cool persplration ooZing out Of IN,
skin.
- Take care take care he cried ou
in terror and catching my pony by th,
head he pulled me back toward the mouth
Of the valley.
After we had got away some twenty yards
| saw an immense boa constricter curled
around the stem OF the tree near which WI
had been standing. The reptiles neck wa
stretched some ten or twelve feet over TIT
pathway. and its head kept rising and fal
ling in much the same way as l. have sec,
turkey wriggle about. The terrible thin,
had evidently been summing Itself, ant
having been awakened by our approach
proceeded 10 uncoIl its lnrpense body IL
or4er 10 obtain its midday meal. II Wa
not less than sixty feet long, Tam sure. 70
| counted &, ha t six coils AROUND tie b. d
Of the tree, allowing seven fee for eacI
coil and fifteen feet for the head and neck
After this adventure we hurried back t
the guard and reported wha. we lad seen
Several OF the men expressing desire
see the serpent, they were permitted 10 az
; preach the mouth OF the valley 10 Catch
: distant glimpse Of the boa, which quit
satisfied them. | learned afterward thE
this route was never travelled, and that Il
native escorts really made al extensive d
tour. and came out by a secre; channe
whose approaches were carefully hide
BY trees and rocks Some had ai:emp,s
10 pas through II, bu. as they aad ney
!. been heard OF again, il was universally b
lieved ,ha, they had a cen destroyed By Il
serpenis, and there is eN little d5ub, Il
/, IS the ca c. have heard soneu he
J ,na: an a-ry was stopped ~ grea. snas
aud real : believe that The boas N Il
valley would Lind@s the progress Of /
e b.avest army
= From this poiu, our road lay alons
sheltered plain, the path running by