Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-19

pig, nj least ono hundred fcct. But ID
was gathered from Catherine Lcgrand,
who had seen HIM at close quarters on
the occasion oil tho carrying off her
child, that ho must be some: hing be-
tween forty and fifty feet long. 1t was
also surmiscd from the imperfect de-
scription she gave Of the approximate
color, ringr, and spots Of the snake, that
it was n survivor of the extinct race of
gigantic ITuillins or local anacondas, oc-
casionally to be met with in the old
days in the Oropouchc, Arima, and
other rivers Of the island.
"Thc excitement in Arima was raised
to the highest pitch on Tuesday when
news was brought that the great serpent
had been seen on the Arima heights, and
that two more children, - Juan Castillo
and Fable Hernandez, had been carried
of by him. The report Of the occur
rcnccs stated that the snake had been
distinctly seen On two occasions; that,
consequent on the alarm given on the
first occasion, the People were on the
qni vivc, and that II hunter, Emmanuel
Caidcron, had twice fired with shot into
the beast rs he had half swallowed the
cru she'd body of young Hernandez, but
with the only effect of hasicning his pro-
gress in the direction of Monte Blcu or
Blue Mountain. Tho warden thought
the news serious enough to request,
through the colonial secretary, some ms.
lance from The port of Spain, with rifles
Of greater penetrating power than the
guns used by tho majority of the pur-
suers. Accordingly Sergeant Giplun
was sent to Arima by the afternoon train
with six policeman, armed with Martini
Henry rifles, and his excclcncy the gov
crnor added the consideration of these
extraordinary occasions TO the order of
the day Of the central agricultural board
which held lis first ing on Wcdncs.
day AT noon, when the colonial secretary
brought forward the question of the
great snake, stating that he had obtained
all available information from the War
den up To date. He then described the
ravagcS of the monster, and concluded
by II request for suggestions from men,
hers as To the spccdicst and best way Of
Kidding the suffering district from this
plague in serpent form.
CDR. de Vcr;euil stated rs his opinion
that the snake was evidently lIuiilia,
or rs the old native name in full used To
he, Tcmccuiicahuila, with the strength
Of five men. II had probably after feed
Ing on deer and other forest prey, be
come acquainted with domestic animals
in the opening of the country 10y cult.
ration, and from that point 10 bccom-
ing nan-catcr was only step in its
amphIbious existence. IT. warincss was
no doubt due to the ms tinct in avoiding
danger, as denote by watchful prcpar-
ations on the part Of man, so observable
i'll the case Of other wcll-known pests.
He thought the shooting down of the
monster ut the earliest opportunity the
clear course to be pursued on the occa
sion.
"a long discussion cnsucd on the
subject, and the board adjourned on
Mcssrs. Devcnish and Mccarthy stating
that they would join in the pursuit of
the monster, and report fully on the in
formation thoy gathered ut the next
meeting. At G. P. NJ. Thursday morn
ing molly caval cadc WIS seen issuing
out of Arima in northcrly direction.
They were the Warden and his party on
their way To the Blue Mountain, in the
neighbOrhood Of which search parties
had located tho snake the day before.
lie had been seen by one of the hunters
to enter the Guacharo caves in the hill
separated by hollow from the noun
tain, and Gordon had gradually been
formed round The hill to prevent his
saliying out. The Rev. Cure of Arima,
whom they met IN the way, further
told them that ho had heard the snake
had tried to issue from the caves OH the
southern side, but had beat retreat in
these dangerous rcccsses on being greet
cd with volley. With the War,lens
party were also the Colonial Secretary.
Mr.. Mccarthy, Scrgt. Giblan, the armed
police from town, and guides from
among the residents of the Arima
heights. But other parties were also on
the warpath, and the party received
several additions on the way. From all
reports it was now clear that the IIuillia
was nj bay. But how best TO engage
him and destroy him in the deep cavi-
ties of tho hill, where there was even
'Shing stream and kind OF Stygian
pool, was the excited subject of discus
sion on the way.
.PThn fOlloyyipn nj M ~