Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-18
LANES STUDY OF SNAKES.
How, with the Aid of HIS Accordion,
He saved an Englishman from an
Awful Fate

HOW, with the Aid of HIS Aec0rdtOns
He saved an Englfshman from an
Awful Fate.
lFrom the San Francisco Examiner.l
One of the best known characters in San
Diego county, in the southern part of this
Stat, is George Lamb, the drive ,. 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
he drives daily. 1t is lonely spot, nesting
among towering crags and broken by rough
ravines, principally inhabited by coyotes,
Wildcats, rattlesnakes and occasionally
mountain lion. The land is, however, fer
tile and produces fine crops of barley, alfalfa
and some fruit; so Mr.. Lamb, who is no
tenderfoot, does not worry about his unin-
vited tenants.
The anti.tropical climate of this part of
California appears especially adapted to the
growth of snakes, which here attain enor-
nous size. The old stage driver, perhaps on
account OF his peculiar temperament, or
from the loneliness of the country, for years
! has amused himself studying the habits of
the different varieties of snakes he meets on
his travels. Whenever he discovers singu-
| larly large rattler or red racer he does not
try to kill it. He studies 1t quietly if 1t
chances to be summing itself on rock or in
| the road, and he prefers to make detour 30
as not to alarm it if such course Is posi-
BILE. In this way he has become on good
terms with some of the most venerable and
| colossal snakes in the country. Some time
ago, finding pig raising profitable way OF
using up his surplus alfalfa, he started q
piggery, but in spite of his watchfulness fol
kcoyotes and wild cats the porkers kept disap-
pearing.
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 wal
startled by hearing one of the smallest ones
give vent to earpiercing squeals. Looking
hastily in that direction, Mr.. Lambs eye
almost popped from their sockets at behold
ing an immense serpent whipped round ant
ingly bent on swallowing it. Curiosity 60
the better of his timidity, and Mr.. Lamb in
stantly determined to capture his snakeshil
alive If possible. The struggles of the litttl
porker were soon over, and the snake bega
devouripg it. The grass and weeds had con
| cealed most of the serpent's body SO far
But in its effort to make away wit
the pig the snakes entire body came int
} view.
, If Mr.. Lamb had been astonished in th
, first place, he was simply paralized now {
black snake, nearly the thickness of a man
body. But he was still resolved to oaptul
! it, SO, quietly returning to his cabin, he pr
D cured some old blankets, fashioned them ir
4 to a net, and, stealing up to the reptil
4 which was now fast asleep, completely 81
' folded it. Leaving the monster firmly 8
o cured, he selected box canon about half
It mile from his house, which had on thr
}, | sides high, rocky cliffs, with smooth perpe