Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-17
BATTLE WITH A PYTHON.
A Revolver. a Cheese-Knife. and nm Axe
Did the business Nicely.

John Braun and his sister. who live ut "A
Avenue ID. were eniovlpg n comfortable
GLASS of beer in Fritz Pabsts saloon, in
Park Row. about o'clock last night, says
the New York sun. The back room where
they were sitting was once used Tor con-
ccrt-room before tho law divorced beer
and music. and the rear OF the room was
fitted up with rural scenery that carries a
Germans thoughts back 20 scenes OF coun-
try pleasure. f..,,..
AGAINST n railing that enclosed the other
wiso omen stairway 10 the cellar. A step
ladder rested on the rail beside him and
HING ALONGSIDE the short dividing wall
between tie front and back rooms. His
sister sat opposite him. facing the star-
way. Pabst and LOUIS. the bartender,
were behind the bar, and in front OF IT.,
seated al tables, we're Andrew Shoemaker,
William j. Presso. Richard Clud, and
Robert Weir
ClulT was lust raising p big glass Of beer
10 his Inns when the whole party heard
Braun's sister cry:
Look out, John. there's worm "
inst what Braun thought she meant no
one knows, hut he answered: On, what
Look outlo she cried again. "Ho'n
kill you"
Braun cast a look behind him to where
his sisters ewes were Tiyeted, and the next
moment he bounced into the bor-roOm.
His ewes were sticking out, and ho was
white as q ghost. -,
Bcssl" he stammered, pointing TO the
stairway. there's snakes in there"
Cuf nut his glass down. " Hes got 'em
again. ~ ne said to his chum Weir, ana l.
don't take another glass If he sees SNAKES.
Every body ran into the back room.
Sure enough. there was a snake. and big
one. He was crawling out OF the cellar,
and when BRAIN first saw him he ned got
ms beod a foot or so above tho rail and
was sury his new surroundings. lie
wasn't half ms excited a. Braun was, but
when the latter turned his head the snake
took il as e personal airont, aQd Braun
found himself looking into a big mouth
adorned with wicked-looking iangs. Inc
snakes black eyes sparslcd and his tongue
pIaved in and ont like Lightning. lie had
concluded 10 90 up the step-ladder Wheh
the rost of tho party got there.
Pahst spraug behind the bar for re-
yolycr. Shoemaker shed bis big oyercoat
and grabbed chcesc-knite from he bepch
counter. and Louis appeared with al axe
from the kitchen. C!ub chung To ms glass
Of beer Braun's sister got behind a table.
They moved TO the attack IN "a hollow
square.
' n / DON'T llf MN. NiHp ui4it "D9V
cried. and bang went the revolver.
"Bang!n bang " Slash and chop went
the knife and axe, and the snake, who had
eot the whole of his ninc-foot body. into
play, held on TO the stcpAdder with his
tml and slashed around, directing his open
laws first against one and then another.
"Givo III 10 MIN ." Go for him. Now
you've got him.
They were ~ close quarters. The snake
had already got one bullet in him, ont OF
five that Pabst fred. besides two or three
b,r cuts from Shoemaker's weapon. Blood
spouted clear over the heads OF hls assoll-
ants. and into Cuffs beer.
Suddenly the snake launched himself
r.,ht into the midst of them. II was a
fatal move. Louis pinned him with the
axe. and Shoemaker cut him nearly in two
with "a cheese knife. The snake gave mp,
and with last effort slid back into the
tine cellar There was q general impress
son that be mad reintOrcements there.
Nobody followed for q time Then Presse
crept down cautiously. caught him 10y the
tail. aud dragged him forth. The cellar
wall divides Pabst from Charles Roiche &
Brothers animal store. and il seemed safe
f. assume that the snake bad escapedfrom
There. he was about nine feet long and as
thick as % mans arm. He is probably
Young python. Keicha's was locked up
and dark.