The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-20
LAsSOlNG A 25-FOOT SNAKE.
Cowboys, Mounted on Mustangs, Come
to the Rescue.

Cowboys, Mounted Mustangs, Come
to the Rescue.
Returning from a short visit to Chiapas |
met Mexican peon, an old acquaintance,
named Leon Garlic, who had just arrived
from the coffee plantations of tina South
west.
Anything worth seeing down in your
country?" | asked.
"Nolhing specially interesting" he an
swered, except that at this season it is the
worst country on the face of the earth for
spiders and snakes. There is sort of hoop
snake in the Vera Cruz country called
'coralito,' slender but exceedingly active
fellow, crimson in color, which has vicious
bite which is almost as deadly as that of
your terrible RATHER.
about three weeks ago I was passing
the coffee plantation of my friend Sandoval,
near Pachucha, when in the hot broiling
sun was ast0nisled to see the natives drop
their work and rush about as if they were
mad. Pretty soon an intelligent peon shouted
for me to go as fast as ! could from the spot.
The serpent!' he cried. ''He is coming.
Run for your life" For moment | was
dazed, but taking to my heels / followed the
others, and soon arrived at the hacienda
All was excitement there. Two of the most
expert cowboys in all Mexico happened to
Mexican rlatas or grass ropes securely, and
urging their mustangs slowly forward, fol-
lowed BIZ the shouting rabble, cautiously APP
preached the pIowed field where the snake
was said to be-"
" Is this yarn" asked, or is It fact"
Fact, l assure you," answered my
friend
THE cowboys and the crowd moved slowly
down TO the field, and there in the middle,
with neck elevated and bead wagging from
| a. -. IL l.
saw in my life. Two bulls and one COW
which he had bitten lay dead on the ground
near by. His body was as big as mans
leg, and his fat ugly head looked as large
as a dishpan. The reptile saw us coming,
and making an immense coil he waited for
our approach. Slowly the cowboys rode up
TO him, their mustangs snOrting and pranc-
ing, and when within a safe distance they
began to ride around the snake in circle
swinging their lariats at the same time
and going at tremendous Pare.
Round and round they went Mt dizzy
speed. the snake attempting to follow them
with his head. but it was very confusing, and
soon mixed him up badly. The mustangs
galloped faster and faster, and just at the
right moment, cowboy on each side of
him, two magic circles swung quivering out
into the air, and two fatal n00ses settled
down over the head of the big writhing crea-
ture. The cowboys knew their business
and the mustangs knew theirs. First tight
ening the nooseS with several quick little
jerks, both riders let their ropes have all
the slack they could, and then, keeping
about six yards apart. they started off in
the same direction as fast as they could.
The consequence was that the snake had his
feet pulled from under him. so to speak,
and was dragged for nearly mile by those
fiery young mustangs over the toughest road
they could pick out"
"Well, that is whopper." 1 at length
found words 10 say.
mo whopper about it," answered the
Mexican. :" but straight facts. He measured
more than twenty-five feet after the boys got
through with him, for he was very timber
and soft after the rough handling they gave