Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-10

a Man in South America and was
Itself Killed.
One of the largest snakes that was
ever captured, and an authentic meas
uremeut taken, was the boa killed by
Professor Brouwer, which was thirty
eight feet in length. 1t had swallowed
a horse, and was so Supplied that it be-
came an easy victim TO the naturalist
and biz men.
But a tale comes from South America
of monster captured by a party of
naturalists and prospectors, that exceeds
this length by two feet. The enormous
reptile was forty feet long with body
of immense proportions. For mum
Der of months 1t had committed numer-
ons depredations in the immediate Vi
ciuity Of hamlot-pigs, calves, and a
large pet tapir, tha. had been severaIly
carried off in the night--and it was
supposed that some gigantic conger was
the cause, until some natives came upon
the reptile coiled under the upturned
roots of a large tree, aud its great size
so completely demoralized them that
they all took to their heels and left the
place.
Two weeks later the naturalist men,
toned stopped at the village, and, hear
ing of the account, finally succeeded in
hiring several natives to show them the
spot, doubling, of course, their story OF
the size of the snake. They started out
however, fully armed, and after about
an hours tramp through thick under
growth they came in sight of the up
turned tree. Any nearer the natives
would not 60, so the white men pressed
on, but only to find the game gone.
a great hole had been followed out;
and pieces of snake skin lying around
showed that there had been one there at
least. Determined not to give it up,
they formed into line of skirmishers,
radiating ont from the tree, or suakes
nest, and then started out, the agree
ment being that if one Of the party dis
covered the animal, he should signal 10
the one next to him and so on around,
rally to given place. In this order
they set out, beating the bush, and
keeping a sharp look ut
They had gone nearly thousand
yards from the tree, when the signal
from the circle TO the South was heard
by the whole party, who made a rush
for the spot The professor in charge. of
the party was the iarthest away, and as
he came near he could
hear the shouts of the natives, who were
evidently jubilaut over something.
Making through the underbrush as fas,
as he could, encumbered with rifle and
several specimen-caDs,h he suddenly came
upon the rest of the party standing on a
rock about one hundred feet from tall
cocoanut, and the object of their atten'
tion was Immediately obvious. Coiled in
an immense heap was serpent, whose
body was twice the size OF a mans,
while its tail was coiled around the tree
in three or four coils. The ground
around was torn up, small trees, reeds
and grass crushed to the ground with
all the evidences of life and-death
struggle. A second glance showed
what it had been.
The snakes head was stretched upon
the ground, and from its enormous
mouth protruded the head and horns Of
a goodly sized stag, which gave it the
appearance Of having horns, while the
body of the deer had been successfully
swallowed expanded the creature so that
it bad lost all semblance to serpent
looking more like some fearful monde
script or dragon. 1t was evident that
the animal could be easily captured with
such an immense load. 1t appeared ex-
hausted, having swallowed the animal
up to the horns, and then, finding itself
caught, had evidently struggled terribly
aud Intellectually to get rid of The feast.
The professor was extremely anxious 10
save the skin aud skeleton OF the monster,
so was decidedto spur it through the
head making only one wound if possible.
Ore of the natives, who was now, in
the seemingly helpless condition Of the
animal, very brave, offered to attempt
it. A stout rope was made ready to Sc
cure it, the party standing by with their
guns, while two Of the natives approach
ed the animal who had not yet moved.
Indeed, It appeared 10 be dead, and
sc the negro must have thought as he
crept up.
Quickly passing 1t between the head
and coil, he raised bis spear, and in a
second would have buried it in the brain
OF the monster, when TO the horror OF
the rest. the enormous body arose 10
the air, and the head and projecting
horns were hurled at the luckless negro
with sickeniug force, so that the horns
of the deer crushed into his lungs,
throwing him dead and bleeding to the
ground, the great body slowly drawing
in upon it, so that, had not the first
blow been fatal, he would have been
crushed to death by the terrible weight.
1t was done 30 quickly, that all was
over before the others could realiz.
what had happened.
The natives fed, but the white men
decided 10 end the tragedy, aud, stimuli
taneously taking aim. three bullets were
landed ia the reptile's head. They all
took effect, as the great coils shot ouf,
winding and unwinding; turning and