The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-21


we were rooted to the spot as firmly as
tho Pyramids are to Egypt's sand. In
an instant his hands were in the box, |
and no less than twenty of these deadly |
animals were dancing around him to |
the music of their rattIes. The mount |
aineer was pale as sheet, and trembled |
as with the aguc. Back went the snakes |
into the box. Turning to the mount |
aineer, Reynolds exclaimed: Whats
the matter; are We coldp' His voice
broke the spell; the mountaineer gave
one look, and then made for the door.
He never came for pay for those snakes"
Among the visitors to SEQ the enor-
nous 3OO-pound python ON exhibition
there was a native OF Central America.
He told the attendant at thedoor that a
long residence in warm climate had
made him perfectly familiar with rep
tiles and their habits. He acknowl-
edged that the python in the museum
was wonderful serpent, but he said
he had seen many such in Guatemala.
A representative of the Star, who hap
pened to come along just then and
overheard the Central Americans 8 re-
marks, asked him to relate some of his
experiences with snakes. The man was
veteran Of sixty-iive or seventy years
His face was bronzed, and his nair,
which he wore long, was as straight az
that of an Indian. He was full six feet
tall, and the lankness of his figure gave
him singular appearance. He told
the reporter that his name was Senior
Jose Dece. that he was born in Mexico,
and left that country for Central Amer
lea when young man. The Senior
wplI nHnnofn1 80,
in the English language with the same
1uency that he does in his native
tongue. He said
81 have camped in swamps and
thickets, and slept with pythons and
anacondas crawling all about me. I
never thought of being afraid of them.
The stories told in hooks Of immense
snakes attacking large animals and
men, coiliDg about them and crushing
and swallowing their prey. are for the
most part cxaggcrations. 1t is true
| that small ANIMALS are often killed ana
| swallowed whole by anacondas and
boa-cul.strictors; but it is safe to say
that no full-grown man was ever made
| meal OF by q serpent.
Were yoil ever attacked by ser
Pent?" the reporter asked,
IL never had one tackle ne, but q
sailor with whom l was acquainted had
pretty severe experience. tie was
walking in thickct on one mounlir chit
night, twenty-five or thirty years ago,
when he suddenly found himself encir-
clcd wish the folds of Il tremendous
snake. | Suppose he would have drawn
knife from his 10 ket and cut the
reptile in two, but " fortunately for
him he did not happen to have any cut
ting instrument with him Mt the time.
SO all that was left for him to do was
to struggle and free himself the best
way he could. He made desperate
| effort and looscned himself from what
was very close embrace. Once free,
he procured stick and pounded the
anaconda upon its head umti it was
dead. Therc is certain spot ut the
base of q snakes head which, if struck
even II slight blow, will cause death'
Is an anaconda good for human
| food?"
| "Now, that is question which is very
hard to answer. 1t may be wholesome,
but think it would he pretty tough
eating for any human being who has an
ordinary set of teeth and the average
digestion. think l would prefer good
| bccfSieak OF q trndcrioin if l wanted .
| SooN Square meal
Us any kind of snake suitable for
| 1ood?"
| 80, yes; rattlcsnakes arc delicious
! and wholesome. have been in colln-
| tries where they formed Il large share
.: the Regular diet Of the inhabitants"
- TO what countries do you refcr?"
"Well. Sir, The PEOPLE of Brazil and
Chill eat rattlesnakes; but YOU need not
go SO far away from New York to find
serpent-caters. The folks down in the
northern part of the State OF Pennsyl-
vanin cat rattlesnakcs. Tho serpents
III that State are particularly plump,
and exceedingly inviting to the palaie
OF an epicurc. According to the ortho-
doN method, the rattler is skinned and
cut up into pieces about an inch or au
inch and half long, and then fried the
same as YOU would cook an eel. Ihave
eaten rattcrs lots of times. They taste
something like cels, only a great deal
sweeter. | prefer rattlesnakes to frogs
any day in the week. Frogs are in
sipid."
snakesp"
IF you mean one of those conicnl |
piles OF reptiles. such as Livingston saw
in Africa, | will tell you that | never
saw pyramid; but l have seen heap
or big knots of serpents all twisted and |
entertained in wrigglinG. squjrming,
shiny, kissing bunch. @ | was exploring
cave IN south America y few years
agO' when came 10 . passage that was
SO low and marrow thar was comneiled
To get down and crawl upon my hands
ana knees. had To hold my torch in
my teeth and, "a l could not manage
it very well, my light was extinguishCd,
and NY only alternative was to rrope
along in darkness. Suddenly / felt
something cold and shiny against my
hands. | know from the feeling that I
had touched snake. Then | blindlv
put my hands forward and thrust them
into nest of Serpents. You can be-
heve that ] got out Of that place rs
speedily as possible. "A. Y. Star.
A Cat Story.
A man now living in Kingston emf