Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-04-25
constant movements Of the huge snake,

constant movements Of the huge snake,
the battle would have been speedily
ended, but it was almost impossible to
get certain shot at him, on account of
the lightning-like movements with
which he changed front, darting for
ward first at one and then at another of
his foes. 1t was impossible, moreover,
such was his tremendous reach, to APP
proach nearer than within thirty or forty
feet of him. To add to the difficulty
of the matter, too, the moon, which had
hitherto shone brightly upon the whole
strange, weird scene, now became part
ly obscured by passing clouds. At
length, however, Vermejho succeeded
in planting bullet in the thickest part
OF the anaconda's body, but with little
apparent result beyond causing him to
hiss louder than before and lunge out
wickedly at the two natives, who, APP.
preaching him from the rear, had en-
deavored to bury their short spears in
the thick part of his tail.
Zone of the natives now came near
paying the penalty of too near an APP
proach to the enraged reptile, for no
sooner did the boa feel the prick of the
spearhead than he suddenly whirled
around, striking out sidewise with his
head, and catching the smaller of the
two men by the shoulder with his fangs;
at one stroke he stripped the flesh from
his arm clear to the elbow. The other
native, furious with rage, would have
thrown himself, l believe, headlong on
the serpent, but that / restrained him;
and leveling my rifle, again essayed to
bring the prolonged conflict to conclu-
sion.
Acting under my instructions, two of
the seamen engaged the reptile from
one side, whilst on the other / steadily
worked the crank of the Winchester, d.
recting shot after shot at the quivering
coils, which, like steel springs,
seemed to be constantly changing
their position. Notwithstanding my
proximity to the mark, however,
and although deemed dcxterous
in the use of rifle, none of the shots
inflicted disabling wound, and the
obstinacy and courage displayed by the
creature as it faced its foes and refused
to retreat, was something wonderful.
During all this time poor Barry lay
as one dead at the foot of the tree; but
the boa having somewhat changed its
position in the course of the fight,
directed two of the sailors to go and
pull away the body. This at last, one
of them succeeded in doing in the smoke
and confusion, but he had carried it but
a few feet when the reptile, realizing
that its prey was about to escape it,
swerved over and lunged it's head for.
ward, striking at the sailor
dropping his burden on the ground
the sailor drew his long sheath-knife
and as the boa's head touched his breast
he buried the blade almost to the hill
in the creatures muscular neck. The
boa, however, gripping the man by the
shoulder, with movement so rapid tina
the eye was unable to follow it, instant
ly enveloped the brave fellow in its
powerful folds. There was perceptiblt
culver throughout it's enormous length
as the muscular action of construction
was set in motion. In another instan
the crushing of bones and flesh would
have been heard when, selling a shor
spear from one of the natives, Vermejht
severed at blow the prehensile tail O
the boa, about two feet up. In a momen
the great coils relaxed and it turned
upon its new adversary. Kissing will
awful fury, 1t struck again and again a
the naturalist, who met it every tim,
with savage stroke of the harp spear
head; and then, seeing that it movet
with difficulty, and that the loss of it
tail had deprived it of much of it's pow
er, the natives and sailors rushed in ant
dubbed it to the ground. A moment i
writhed there, and then, stepping up t.
1t, | placed the muzzle of my Wincheste
against the ugly head and fired. Thu
ended one of the toughest fights / hav
ever known boa or any other kind o
serpent to make. Itliterally fought un
til it died when once brought to bay.
"We carried poor Barry back to tn
launch, where he lay delirious for som
days. His shoulder was terribly LAGER
ated by the serpent's teeth, and he wa
so badly wounded that it was weeks be
fore he recovered from his terrible ex
perience.
During my sojourn in the Brazil
: and India | have seen many of tn
largest reptiles, among them the gigar
tic python; but never any which az
, preached in size, strength or gamenes
, that which shall always maintain wa
the Father of Serpents, and which CAV
us such battle royal that night on tn
banks of the Solimoens river. "-Austy
, w. Granville, in Chicago Journal.