The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-27
COUPLE OF SNAKE STORIES.
how Two Children Played Peek-a-
300 With a copperhead.

CORNWALL, N. Y, May 26.- Yesterday
morning, Mrs. Divine, widow, went to
church, leaving her two little girls, Nora
and Jneny, aged respectively six and four
years, alone in the house. Half an hour later
Mrs. Benton, the wife Of neighboring
farmer, saw the children sitting on the grass
under an apple tree, striking every few mo.
ments at something on the ground. After
each stroke they screamed with laughter.
Mrs. Benton's curiosity was aroused, and
sne crossed the road to see what was anus
cpsd seeH sfs sIiv them Nora
boo with u.s." She had hardly ceased speak
Ing when half the length of great copper
head snake darted out of hole in the direc-
tion OF the children. Two switches descend
ed smartly upon II, and the ugly head was
quickly pulled back.
Whether the venomous reptile was really
playing with the children, as they supposed.
or was kept at bay by their switches, was a
problem which Mrs. Benton did not waste
any time In attempting to solve. She called
to her husband, who was watching her, and,
rushing forward .shas drageAd theO Al Ar s4tvls
Just as the snake looked out again to see
what had become of them. The farmers
stick fell upon his head, and he went back
no more. HIS body was very nearly four
teet long. Mrs. Divine tainted when she
saw the snake and heard the story, but her
children wept and refused to be comforted
because their playmate was dead.
The Python Sat In a Tree,
NEW YORK. May 26.-Wild reports were
current yesterday that an immense snake
had been discovered In the jungle of the ia.
nous garden of David NJ. Stone, the editor
OF The Journal of Commerce." and that
there, was a reign of terror in Mr.. Stones
neighborhood. There was one story III at the
reptile had held Mr.. Stone at bay for n dav
compelling him to take vacation for that
le1gth OF time. But that story was discred-
ited, because Mr.. Stone has not taken a va
cation since 1849.
Still, 1t Is fact that people passing by
Mr.. Stones house last week were startled to
see an immense serpent coiled up in a tree In
the garden. Hundreds of people hung over
the fence to gaze at the reptile, and scores in
vaded the garden and hurled all sorts OF
questions at Mr. Stone, The snake was the
talk of Brooklyn, and although his snake
ship Is now wound up In knot in the lower
part OF the garden. fresh delegation of peo-
pie Is momentarily expected from Williams
burg to see the snake and dispute its exist
ence with Mr.. Stone. But Mr.. Stone does
not assume to be sIake editor, and he tells
this story.
Once there was real snake. but that was
two years ago. 1t was python, and lived
In Sierra Leone, Africa. Some one killed 1t
reptile measured about % feet in lengt Mr..
Stone kept the snake for awhile in his office,
aud afterward stretched it out In his parlor
Eventually 1t was relegated to the attic,
where the moths got into 1t. A week ago,
when Mr.. Stones house was being cleaned,
the snake was resurrected and pitched into
the garden. There the gardener, whose
name must be Adam, got hold OF the skin.
and, alter stuffing IL with hay, propped the
serpent up in tree.