Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-04-09
AN ESCAPED ANACONDA.
An Extraordinary Adventure of an Ohio
Man in Cave-A Horrible Experience.

An Extraordinary Adventure of an Ohio
Man in Cave-A Horrible Experience.
[From the Chicago Inter oceanl
Last fall, in company with his father
IN law, Mr.. James Crumbaugh and
neighbor, Mr.. George Stickney, all liy-
ing near Springfield, O., Mr.. Harlem
went out on a nutting and hunting ex-
petition to Clifton, aromantic and rocky
spot near the headWs,ters of the Miami.
At one point the rocks rise to height
OF 100 feet or more along the stream and
contain many assures and small caves.
AS the hunting party were winding
around these rocks by a narrow path,
one OF them slipped, and, in falling, his
feet scraped the side of the rock below
the path until he finally got foot-hold
on ledge few feet below. He i'm
mediately recovered himself, and on
looking at the place where he had slid
down the rock, he was surprised to see
that his feet in slipping had laid bare
hole In the side of the rock by brushing
aside some underground which had con-
cealed it. He Immediately called the
others, and soon all were standing on
the narrow ledge below the path, look
ing at the opening In the rocks. After
moved the opening was found to be
about three or four feet in size. A damp
wind was blowing from the mouth of the
opening with considerable draught.
The party made cursory examination,
one, by one, with bit of lighted can
die, which showed nothing but narrow
passage about twenty feet in length,
turning abruptly to the right. The floor
was streWn with the bones of birds and
small animals. Believing that it vas
only one of the many caves With which
the region abounds, the party, with the
exception of Mr.. Harlem, who was
much interested in the cave, abandoned
the exploration. They cautioned him
to be on his guard against concealed
clefts, and told him to fire his gun if he
needed help. Harlem, after Lighting
candle and getting his shotgun ready for
action, entered the opening on his hands
and knees. The bottom of the passage
was dry. but the air blowing through it
was damp and sickening, causing the
candle to burn dim and blue. Cropping
cautiously for about twenty feet, the adj
venturer came to the turn which led in
to larger chamber of the cave. Just
as he turned the corner he stumbled,
and in steadying himself put his hand
on the floor of the cave, where he was
shocked to feel something round and
smooth, starting back with terror, he
raised the candle high above his head
and looked down. There lay the coils
of huge serpent. In his terror Mr.. Har-
lem let fall the candle and remained mo-
tionIess with fear on his knees. AS luck
would have it the candle did not go out
but remained sticking in the sand on the
floor of the cave and throwing dim
light over the scene. Like fash the
hideous head of the serpent darted up
from the floor and the coils began to
move. Mr.. Harlem said he could have
fed had not something seemed as if
enormous weights were hung on every
member of his, body, absolutely prohibit
ing flight. The serpent's eyes appeared
to give forth blue phosphorescent light
as they flashed in the gloom. Slowly
the creature began to move its head in
circles, as if to produce the same effect
IS the mesmerist, who puts his subject
to sleep by passes with his hands.
Gradually the coils drew nearer to their
victim. Mr.. Harlem says he knew all
the time that the head was approaching
by degrees, and that the circles were
gradually narrowing. He knew that he
was experiencing what is called the fas
cination of serpents, but found it impos-
sible to break the spell. His nerves
seemed completely powerless, and his
pulse seemed to stop, and ms skin was
moist with cold perspiration. Never
theless his mind was reasonably clear,
and the events of his life ran in quick
succession before his mental vision.
With anguish he thought of the home
which he had left but few hours be-
fore. The feeling of helplessness
seemed to increase. Suddenly he
thought of his gun. He dared not re-
move his eyes from the snake long
enough to look for the gun, which he
had dropped on the floor in the excite
ment, because he felt that the moment
he turned away from the creature it
would be upon him. He CROPPED on the
floor with his right hand, and at last
found the gun and raised it to his side.
The snake was too near for him to raise
the gun to his shoulder, and he simply
held it at his side and reached back IN
til he felt the trigger At the deafening
report he fell back unconscious and
knew nothing more until he found his
friends bathing his face in vinegar and
water. 1t seemed that his companions,
as soon as they heard the report of the
gun, crawled into the cave and found
him lying unconscious. Their first
thought was that he had shot himself,
but few drops of water revived him.
Mr.. Harlem was removed to neighbor-
ing farm house where he so on recovered
sufficiently To he taken home From
the neighbors it was learned that travel
ing show which had had an exhibition
near there some time ago had lost boa
constructor, and it is believed that this
is the snake in the cave. 1t was, Mr..
Harlem says, about ii feet in length and
as thick as mans thigh. Residents in
the vicinity complain of having lost
poultry and turkeys in mysterious
manner. No further trace of the snake
has been discovered, and it is thought it
was killed by Mr.. Harlem's shot. No
one, however, cares to enter the cave
and see If the serpent is there.