The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-07
sNAKEs IN A JAIL
Thrilling and Unusu Il Experience OF
a Coast Line Engineer.

Thrilling ana Unusu Il Experience OF
Coast Line Engineer.
Richard E. Bell, an engineer on the Coast
Line railroad, had a rather unpleasant
and somewhat painful experience the other
day which he does not care to repeat. and
which, though resulting in his injuries
gives him small prospect of redress.
Ii is a rule of the railroad company to
ring the bell Of the engine while entering
Thunderbolt and other stations on the line
and while making crossings, to give warn
ing to the people in the neighborhood of the
track. Recently the town council of
Thunderbolt or Warsaw, as the suburban
CITY is known ia the act OF its incorpora-
ton, passed an ordinance prohibiting the
ringing Of the bell within the city limits
The reason for this sapient action upon the
part Of the wise city fathers it is said, was
that they considered the ringing Of the
bell liable to frighten horses and c tuse fire.
ouent runsways. So in defiance of the state
law requiring the ringing Of the tell
Of a locomotive in entering towns and cities
the ordinance was passed.
The town marshal served notice in person
unon Engint er Bell that the city of Thuu-
derbolt had prohibited the ringing of the
bell within the city limits. Mr.. Belt in
formed the marshal that he had his orders
TO r.ng the bell on entering tho town, and
that be should continue to do so until other-
wise notified by the company, and if the
Thunderbolt council had passed
any such ordinance it had better
notify the company, otherwise
he would continue to ring his bell. The
marshal did not look at it that way, and
when Engineer Bell came ringing his engine
bell q day or two later, the marshal notified
him that he had case against him aud
that no must appear before the mayor The
engineer was conducted before his honor
Mayor Fennell, and as there was no doubt
Of the ringing of the bell he was fined So,
and in default of payment he was sentenced
to three days in the lock up. Engineer Bell
didn't propose to pay for carrying out or
ders and as he Is a very determined man
when he takes position, he accompanied
the marshal to the lock up.
The lookup is a 6xl0 affair, its only furni-
ture consisting of a table, which does duty
as bed, chair, bureau, washstaHd and
other toilet articles and furniture. The
engineer stretched him elf at length upon
the table, with logged determination not
to he 0utdone by the town council Of Thun-
derbOlt He had lain there several hours
and was still stoically contemplating the
blue ether above through the holes in the
roof when his attention was attracted to
the antics of large black snake outside.
The snake seemed to have some curiosity as
to the occupant of the lookup. He mounted
L post outside and eyed the engineer sus-
pciously, evidently thinking he had
some claim to the lookup and
regarding the engineer as an in
truder. Parties living nearby say that
the snake has been making his home in the
lookup for some time. Doubtless it was
the first time he had ever known it to have
any other occupant and he felt indignant
Of what be considered an invasion Of his
rights Suddenly his snakeship made up
his mind and started on a tour If
investigation. He shot into the
locA-up from the top. He was about five
feet long, but to the excited imagination of
Engineer Bell he appeared to be five times
that length. With yell, that was heard
all over ThunderoOlt, the engineer gave a
lurch, and, at the same time the table col
lapsed with crash. Bell is a heavy man,
aud his fall injured him considerably. The
crash of the table and the yell frightened
the snake, which took to it's native woods.
The prisoners cutlery brought the mar
shall to the scene, who concluded that under
the circumstances he had been punished
enough even for his contempt for the ordi-
nances Of the city of Warsaw, and ne re-
leased him. Mr.. Bell was confined to his
bed FOR several days from the effects of his
fali, but is out again now. He consulted q
lawyer, who advised him that he had
legal right to sue the mayor of the town for
damages Mr.. Bell thinks he is entitled to
a considerable sum for the damage to his
nervous system, but be doesn't Intend to
sue Mayor Feunell for it.