Connecticut western news., 1886-11-03

was SlnSular position 10 De pluCeo III. We hadn't frearm, harpoon, or any other trustworthy weapon among us, and as for trusting ourselves on deck with iron bolts, belaying pins, or weapons oi that sort, was matter not to be thought of. After we had counted noses, we found that the Captain, two mates, cook, steward, and two foremast hands must be aft. The ship had few muskets and cutlasses, and the officers had re- volvers. If the serpents were to be driven off the first move must be made by the officers. We took turns going up the ladder to get view of the deck, and the sight was one to affect every man. There were serpents from three to twenty feet long, racing about the deck, and there was one with body fully as large as common nail keg. None of them was still for moment, and the noise of their movements was plainly heard in the forecastle.
 'It was fully au hour before the men aft made a move, and then we heard the report of firearms. This was followed, as the man on the ladder ported, by the discharge of half dozen skyrockets, which had been aimed to fly along the decks. Soon after that we heard men astir on the decks, and we opened the scuttle and rushed up. The serpents had apparently disappeared, being frightened by the noise and flames, and as we looked over the starboard side VIC saw a score of them making off. The monster of whom I told you had been hit by a bullet from the captains revolver, and he was swimming about in a circle, head held four or five feet from the surface, and making a terrible splashing. He did not seek to come aboard, nor did he swim away. We had watched him for three or four minutes, when shark dashed in upon him and seized him about midway of his length. The row which followed was the widest thing you ever saw. The snake twisted hlm- self about the shark, and struck at him again and again, and the water was churned up until the foam sometimes hid both from our sight. We were still looking after them when a shout from one of the men drew our attention inboard. He had discovered snake ten feet long curled away in one of the small boats. The officers began firing at him, and he ran the whole length of the ship and took to the water at her bows. We then began hunt for others. There was chap four feet long in a coil of rope amidships, second on the cable chains, and third on the roof of the cooks galley. They were spiteful crea- lures, and were not despatched without danger.
 "When we had carefully examined the decks we supposed that we were clear of our unwelcome visitors, but in few minutes serpent fully ten feet long was discovered on the main yard. Asa mat ter of fact seven of the reptiles had gone aloft, and we did not succeed in hunting out the last one until the next day. by which time the smoke began to lift, the fires on Baly to die out, and we got a puff of wind to carry us through the passage.
 'Our experience was identical with that of an American ship lying in the east end of the passage. She was boarded by legion of serpents, and was driving the last one overheard when we hailed her. She had one man bit en when they first came aboard, and he died in less than three hours, swelling up to great size, and suffering the most ter rible agonies. These incidents were published in and discussed by many English newspapers, and perhaps by American papers as well, and l never heard the fact disputed. Why is it, then, that the person seeing sea ser pent, or a serpent at sea, in these days, is held up to the world as a fool or a liar2 If serpents did not pass from island to island in the tropics, some woulass b2 overrun and others entirely clear of them. That this is not the case any sailor will tell you. have seen, In the Island of l Java, serpent thirtyfour feet long, and as large around his middle as an average man. Let that snake be seen at sea, swimming along with his head we'll up, which is the way they carry themselves, and it would be novel and startling sight to people on shipboard. I have | talked with sailors who have seen plenty of these serpents off the tropical coasts, and the facts In the story of my own ex. | perience are matter of record in Eng
 land, having been debated by eminent naturalists. ."-Nep York Sun.
 Napoleon and tho ViOlets.
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