The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
A BIG REPTILE AT LARGE.
Uncle zeke King Tells Why He Did
Not Stay in the Country All Sum-
FROM the Nashvine American.

mer.
From the NashUiHe american.
Uncle Zeke King (colored) came in Sat
urday night from Bakers station, whore he
went a week ago to spend the summer
working in the country. Zeke is getting
along in years, though not an old man. He
lives on North First street. and is still
lingering along in his fifties His counte-
nance is besprinkled with crows feet and
wri nkles, and he has a peculiar splay-footed
gait which makes him appear venerable.
He was sitting in chair without any back
out on the pavement yesterday afternoon
leaning back against the red brick wal
with the slanting rays of the afternoon sun
streaming into his face as an American
reporter. with whom Zeke had for some
years past been on friendly terms, passed
by. "Hello, Zske," said he, 81 thought you
had gone to the springs to spend the sum-
merW
''Look hyar, boss. doan you come a
pokin' any fun at me, Yer see. l did git
tired of dis here town, and, seq /, I'll just
quit whtewashin' and trimmin' lawns and
go out and work all summer in de country.
/ thought I'd like to drap corn and hoe
Eaters onct mo-. But, no. Stree, l amt
a-gwine out in that neighborhood agin dis
summer"
whats the matter, Zske. didn't they
treat you rightp'
20, yaas, dey treated me sufficiently
enough"
Wasn't there plenty of works"
"I4ots of it,"
'Didn't they pay your
SCOT no cumplaint bout dat.n
'Well, what was it, theme Have they got
spotted fever, or the chills out there, or did
you have snakes or see ghostsp'
HWal1 pow hoca vcus laaf1a diStauoa
off, but you is beginnin' ter specerlate
around de facts in de case
"You reckerlect bouten dat circus dat
wus rocked up at Bakers Friday night.
Well, dey WIS sum annimule and reptiles in
dar-O!l Ouchll Git out, Tiger. Old
oman, why doan' you keep dat dog fastened
up while Use tallin' ter de gemmens 1t
makes me feel like my flesh was a crawlin'
fer him to sneak up and suff his nose agin
my ham when Ise tellin' annecktodotes.
dat dog alius did make me feel nerveless.
But dey wus snake. Lord a mussy, he
wuz as long as across de street He got
outen de cage an struck across de field like
streak or lightnin'; an when he went ter
elm over ten-rail fence he knocked de
rider off wild his tail When he got ter
whar wuz cuttin' sprouts he wuz gitten
putty tired. His tongue wuz a-hangin' out
and he looked like he had de thumps. He
kinder stopped an smacked his lips, an
opened his mouf big enough fer O yearlin'
calf ter jump in. 'Good-by, honey sed 1.
OATS de reason 1 didn't stay all de summa
''An' say. boss, is any of yo' friends have
got any whitewashin' Ter do. jest sem UNI
aroun' ter de ole Niger AM ne will be much
erbleged tor you.n
On being questioned old Zeke stoutly
maintained that his story was true. He
said that it was the next morning after the
wreck, when the cars were being straight
ened up, that the big snake got out, and
that as far as he was concerned the wealth
of the Indies would not tempt him to that
neighborhood again this season. He gives
1t as his opinion that the reptile Will die
next winter. because there is not auy cave
around Bakers station big enough to shelter
himself in during the cold weather.