Connecticut western news., 1889-05-22
- @--0~ CANAAN, CONN,
of the valley tributary or perhaps tho 1 head waters of the Arlina river itself

of the valley tributary or perhaps tho head waters of the Arlina river itself
 "The Warden's party having reached the caves and another large party hold ing the entrance on the valley in the northern side, sort of forlorn hope by the Warden and principal for members of his party was organized for gradual entrance into the caverns as far as the light of day penetrated, preceded by g couple of dogs held in leash by guides. Nothing was noticed for some minutes as the party stumbled their way over the rough rocks, save the murmur of the fall and the mournful half screech of the dismal Guacharo bird, so expressive ly rendered by the Spanish word 1lante. , But as they drew nearer the pool at the foot of the waterfall the dogs began to get excited and to evince decided in- clination to run back. There was sufi- cient light streaming through the en- frances to distinguish pretty clearly all objects in the interior ill the direct line of the entrances. The party halted, both on account of the unruly disposi- ton of the dogs and because one of the guides stated he had seen something moving in the pool
 "With rifles cooked, all eyes were now fixed upon the pool. The dogs now began to howl, and whether the noise reused the terrible occupant of the caves or he otherwise became aware of the existence of the party, the head of 8 monstrous snake suddenly appeared on the surface of the pool, and two large and lustrous eyes became fixed with diabolical gleam on the intruders. An angry hiss, like the plunging of a red hot beam into the pool, issued from the hideous head. A muttered signal, and volley rang with reverberating echoes through the caves. Large stones fell upon the roof, and the startled Guncharos flew wildly in all directions, uttering their dismal screech. The Huilla had not been killed by the bullets aimed at his head. With great rapidity he seemed to uncoil his length from the depths of the pool, and with fully twenty five feet of his body raised and curved forward as if to dart at his assailers, he seemed to be emerging from the pool.
 "A few whispered words notified half the party to aim at his head and the other half at the central part of his body. The second volley produced the desired effect. The colossal snake leaped wholly out of the pool, and with few terrible convulsions, in which he lashed the water and the floor of the cavern, he sank quivering to the ground, third volley for quietus insuring his certain death. This fact was then made sure of, and the caves were soon invaded by the pursuers.
 "The monster was. dragged out into the level and found to measure AZ feet, the thickest part of his body having diameter of two and half feet. In color, he was yellow in the under part of his body, dark above, with dark rings encircling the body, between which semi-lunar gray disks served as spots to variegate the skin. He was opened with the machetas of some cocoa pruners under the direction of MT. Nc Carthy. In him there were found the half -digested body of a deer, and num- Der of forma pauperis forms, probably swallowed by him, with the body of some unknown and unfortunate cocoa contractor.
 "By 6.3O P. M. the joyful concourse, dragging the monster, reached Arima, where the necessary steps were taken to preserve the carcass for display in the Council Hall of Port of Spain. The ex- citing occurrences connected with this monster are still the subject of general discussion and gossip. The island has not for long time been disturbed by tragic incidents of this extraordinary nature."