Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-05-24

child, that he must be something be
tween forty and fifty feet long It was
also surmised from the imperfect de
scription she gave of the approximate
color, rings, and spots Of the snake, that
it was survivor Of the extinct race Of
gigantic Huillias or local anacondas, oc-
casionally to be met with in the old
days in the oropouche, Arima, and
other rivers Of the island.
"The 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
rences 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
qui vive, and that hunter, Emmanuel
Caideron, had twice fred with shot into
the beast as he had half swallowed the
rushed body Of young Hernandez, but
with the only effect of fastening his pro-
gross in the direction Of Monte Bleu or
Blue Mountain. The warden thought
the news serious enough to request,
through the colonial secretary, some as
tance from the port Of Spain, with rifles
Of greater penetrating power than the
guns '3see t44----'---s-s-sv. 81: >hc pur-'
suers. Accordingly Sergeant Giplan
was sent to Arima by the afternoon train
with six policeman, armed with Martini
Henry rifles, and his exccllcncy the gov
ernor added the consideration of these
extraordinary occasions to the order of
the day of the central agricultural board
which held lis first meeting on Wcdnes-
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 lie then described the
ravages of the monster, and concluded
/ by a request for suggestions from mem
bcrs as to the speediest and best way of
Riding the suffering district from this
plaguc ia serpent form.
'Dr. dc Vcrteul stated as his opinion
that the snake was evidently 1Tuillia,
OF as the old native name in full used to
be, Temecuilicahuila, with the strength
of five men. 1t had probably after feed
ing on deer and other forest prey, be-
come acquainted with domestic animals
in the opening of the country by cult
vation, and from that point to bccom-
ing man-eater was only a step in its
amphibous existence. Its wariness was
no doubt due to the instinct in avoiding
danger, as denoted by watchful prepar-
ations on The part of man, so observable
in the case of other we'll known pests
He thought the shooting down of the
monster at the earliest opportunity the
clear course to be pursued on the occa-
sion.
"a long discussion ensued on the
subject, and the b ard adjourned on
Messrs. Devenish and Mccarthy stating
that they would join in the pursuit of
the monster, and report fully on the in
formation they gathered at the next
meeting. At 6P NJ. Thursday morn
ing a molly cavalcade was seen issuing
out of Arima in a northerly direction.
They were the Warden and his party on
their way to the Blue Mountain, in the
neighborhood of which search plrties
had located the 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
sallying out. The Rev. Cure of Arima,
whom they met on the way, further
told them that he had heard the snake
had tried to issue from the caves on the
southern side, but had beat retreat in
these dangerous recesses on being greet
cd with a voliey With the Warden's
party were also the Colonial Secretary,
Mr.. Mccarthy, Sergt. 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 ali
reports it was now clear that the Huillia
was at bay But how best to engage
him and destroy him in the deep cavi-
ties of the hill, where there was even a
rushing stream aud kin1 of Stygian
pool, was the excited subject of discus
sion on the way.
"The following plan of campaign
was, however, finally agreed upon. He
was to be shot down when and where to
be seen, and dogs would be usel to
u .sE;ss q. sssssu e,siiias sssusaegtssssa'
his coming in case of a rush outward
Besides the guides, Mr.. Devenish was
well acquainted with the immense caves
where, besides the weird Guacharo, the
great serpent had now taken up his
/ obodo Tboso oo,,o III.