San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-08-26
ctus and ventures forth. True Flag
THE MUSICAL SNAKE.
A CALIFORNIAN CAPTURES AND
TAMES A BOA CONSTRUCTOR.

The Serpent Becomes Enamored of the
Strains of An Accordion-A Foolish Brit
on Forces Himself Upon the Monsters
Attention. and Is Saved by Melody.
One of the best known characters in San
Diego county, in the southern part Of this
state, is George Lamb, the driver of the stage
to San Jacinto, twelve miles distant. Mr..
Lamb has been a settler in the country.
for good many years, where he has taken
up piece of land among the San Gorgonio
mountains along the stage road, over which
drives daily
One warm afternoon as he lay stretched
out comfortably under some fruit trees
smoking his pipe and tending his pigs, which
were feeding among the alfalfa, he was
startled by hearing one of the smallest ones
give vent to ear piercing squeals. Looking
hastily in that direction Mr.. Lambs eyes al
most popped out of their sockets at beholding
an immense serpent wrapped round and round
about the unfortunate porker seemingly bent
on swallowing it. Curiosity got the better of
his timidity, and Mr.. Lamb instantly deter
mined to capture his snakeship alive if pos
sible. The struggles of the little porker were
soon over, and the snake began devouring it,
the serpents body so far, but in its effort to
make way with the pig the snakes entire
body came into view
CAPTURING THE MONSTER
If Mr.. Lamb had been astonished in the
first place he was simply paralyzed now at
beholding twenty-five feet of yellow and
black snake, nearly the thickness Of mans
body. But he was still resolved to capture
-
cured some old blankets, fashioned them
into net, and stealing up to the reptile,
which was now fast asleep, completely en-
veloped it Leaving the monster firmly So
cured he selected box canyon about half a
mile from his house which had on three sides
high, rocky cliffs, with smooth, perpendicu-
lar surfaces On the fourth he constructed
in a few hours a strong wall of rock and
adobe
Obtaining the assistance of three Indians
he next conveyed the snake to his new quar-
ters leaving the old blanket for soft nest.
A spring of water dubbed up from among
the rocks and catching a number of cotton
tails and jack rabbits he set them loose in the
inclosure. Every day he would visit the
place and see how his charge was getting
along, and soon he and the snake became
well acquainted.
Among other accomplishments Mr. Lamb
is a fine performer on the accordion, and
knowing the passion of the serpent family for
soft music of any nature he used to spend
many of his evenings sitting on the edge of
the canyon filling the surrounding atmos-
phere with the dulcet strains of such melo-
dies as the "Boulanger March" or IL Believe
1t, for My Mother Told Ne So" The scaly
monster, its head reared above the ground,
and look of unmistakable pleasure in its
glittering eye, would indulge in gentle hiss.
ing, meanwhile swaying to and fro in time
with the music
An Englishman, with passion for cunning
and tramping over wild country, put in an
appearance one night and accepted Mr.
Lambs hospitable invitation to spend the
night.
1t happened that the visitor was a great
lover of Scotch whisky, always keeping
large supply in his luggage. He had been in
dulging pretty heavily in his favorite tipple
previous to reaching Lambs ranch, and
during the evening brought out his big flask,
and many a hot tOddy Lamb and he con
sumed ere retirim; for the night
The dawn of another summer day was
breaking when the Englishman proposed to
the ranchman to go and take a look at the
big serpent, which, from his hosts descrip-
ton, he felt convinced belonged to the boa
constructor species of tropical America He
consented to show his visitor the snake; so,
carrying under his arm his faithful accor-
dion, he SCI out for the snakes den. The SER
pent was summing himself in the inclosurC
when the two arrived.
A PERILOUS SITUATION
The Englishmlan despite Mr. Lambs warn
ing climbed upon the stone wall and began
reckleSSly whiStling God Save the Queen"
In vain Mr Lamb entreated him to cease,
explaining that the unfamiliar air would only
anger the saaka Once or twice the snake
Kissed ominousiy, but otherwise paid no at
tentlUn 20 his visitors
Nothing Gaunted by the chilliness of his re-
ceptiOn the EngliShman, without a moments
warning, jumped from the wall directly into
the Enclosure, announcing his intention of
subduing the reptile with the power of the
human eye Mortified at this temerity MIR.
Lamb hurried to the edge of the cliff and
gaZed down upon the reckless Britsher, who
was serencly inspecting the big snake through
his single eye glass.
UnconsciouSly Mr. Lambs fingers clutched
his musical instrument, and the soft notes of
"ROck-a-By, Baby" fioated out into the still
air. 1t was none too soon. The now thor
oughly aroused monster, his head erect and
drawn back, was about to spring upon his
apparently doomed victim.
The music acted like charm, and the
poised snake remained motionless. Mr.. Lamb
did not dare to call out, fearing that the least
discord would break the spell Slowly the