Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-19
curious and astounding sight. We ,

/
could see up and down the Orinoco for a
distance of two miles either way, and
in ten minutes after we saw the fire the
water for all this distance seemed lsshed
10 foam. Wild cattle, deer, tapirs, ant
eaters, monkeys, serpents, peccaries,
and iagusrs came swimming to our side
for life. The crocodiles for long dis
lance up and down the stream got the
call 10 come to rare feast, and l be-
lieve that full thousand Of them were
in sight from the launch. The stream
here was over half mile wide, with a
current of about three miles an hour.
What with their fear of the
flames behind them and the fierce
crocodiles around them the fleeing
inhabitants of the forest were in great
terror. 1t did not for time occur TO US
that we were in any danger, but sudden
ly we observed huge serpent heading
straight for the launch, and some one
shouted for all to seek cover. The snake
came right aboard and was followed in a
minute or two by jaguar. Either OF the
visitors could have easily passed 70 the
shore as we lay against the bank in deep
water, but both seemed determined to
remain with us. It wasn't two minutes
before the fierce growls OF the ia
guar proved that a conflict was immi-
nent, and thirty seconds later serpent
aud beast we're having it hot and heavy
along the hurricane deck. While the
row was going on second iaguar board
ed us over the bows, which were open
back to the pilot-house, and looking
from window it seemed as if we were
beset from the river side. 1t was full
half hour before the panic subsidized, and
by that time every crocodile must have
had a square meal and over.
We had shut ourselves up when the
serpent came aboard. A fight certainly
took place between the snake and the
first jaguar, and when the second came
aboard the fight took on a new phase.
Whether the two beasts were attacking
the reptile together or whether it Was a
triangular contest we could not tell, but
after the panic along the river had sub
sided We carefully opened the cabin
doors and looked out. One of the
jagliars lay dead on the deck, while the
other and the serpent were gone. An
examination Of the dead beast showed
that he had been caught in the folds OF
the snake and that the latter was a boa
constructor. The backbone and nearly
all the ribs were broken.
Three or four days later we had near
and plain view Of still more singular
combat. We had tied up 10 the bank
for the night and were eating supper.
when a wild bull came down to the water
by path only two hundred feet above
us. lie was either thirsty or reckless,
for be gave US no attention. Within
ten feet Of where no lowered his
head to drink was large tree,
and the bull had scarcely tasted the
water when On enormous serpent
flung itself downward and outward
from large limb and seized the bull
There WAS a great fuss instantly. The
snake had a tail hold Oh the limb, but
the bull was stout and strong and could
not be pulled off his feet. While taken
by surprise he was not in the least rat
tied, and from the way he used hoof and
horns we saw that the serpent had under
taken big job. Mud, and leaves, and
grass were flying in showers, almost
hiding the bull from our view, when Il
monster crocodile came out OF q
bed Of reeds a few rods above,
and running along down the bank,
seized the bull by a fore-leg.
The defiant roars Of the victim
were now changed to bellows Of terror
and dismay. While the snake at
tempted to haul one way the crocodile
pulled the other. After three or four
minutes the saurian got an advantage,
and suddenly the serpent let go his hold
of the tree and then such a rumpus was
kicked up that we could see nothing OF
the combat. When the air cleared a
little the serpent was escaping into a
thick fringe of foliage. We fired our
rifles at the bull and crocodile and scared
them of. The bull was weak and evl-
IDENTITY had been badly hurt.
Let one travel on foot through the
most populous district in the United
States and one would not see a single
house-dog or cat where we saw three
jaguars along the Orinoco. There was
not one hour during daylight for a pc
Rod of three months that these creatures
we're not around us, and most of the
time one or more were in sight. When
ever We ran along close 10 the
banks we saw them crouched down
on Lockwood or moving through
the forest, and whenever we came
TO a sandy beach over which the
turtles crawled a iaguar could surely be
counted on for every half-mile. In the
three months we killed upward Of 200 of
these animals. and in almost every in
stance saved the skin. In only one case
was any OF us in danger from this Gun
ming and ferocious beast. The steamer
had been tied 10 the bank, and We had
been making excursions from that spot
for three or four days, when one
afternoon, when only one Of the
Young men was left behind at the
fire on the bank, jaguar crept up and
sprang upon him. 1t was wonderful
spring. as We afterward discovered.
From the spot where the beast cronched
to the place where he alighted on his
victim was just twenty-six feet The
young man was kneeling down and bend
ing over a specimen which he was exam
hing, and the jaguar fell on his back
and seized him by the right shoulder.
The man weighed almost $50 pounds,
and was muscular fellow, but
the jaguar trotted off with him as
if he had been q shoulder of NUT
ton, not lifting the body entirely
clear Of the ground. but dragging 1t
along. Fortunately for the victim, the
forest was dense Just there, and the beast
had to take ono of the several paths
leading through it. He had not gone
above 300 feet when ne met one of the
party on his way back to the boat The
jaguar sprang for limb ten feet above
his head, still holding to the man, and
such was his wonderful muscular power
that one Of his forepaws actually touched
the limb. When he dropped back it was
to receive a bullet in the head. In
dying he inflicted several severe wounds
on the young man with his claws.
oscar wasn't such . Fool.
lOmsha Herald
Colonel Vail, manager of Ragan 8
;Tlrstpata1 Iactrraa Ia tha man who uilOt-