The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-08-20
WATCHED BY A COBRA.

de JanelrO called Illuca ana unere J,
foreigners wend their way during the
hot season to escape the yellow fever
that annually makes q petshouse OF
the seaport. Through Tijuca runs
one OF the most beautiful roads in the
world, called the Floresta, and
slSirting it are residences that during
the Summer months, September to
March, are occupied by Americans
and Englishmen.
Years ago the president OF the Rio
Gas Company erected spacious
mansion somewhat back of the Flor
esta and in the wilds OF the Brazilian
forest. In 1885 he was stricken with |
the fever and compelled to 60 to |
Europe for refrigeration. While
abroad the use of his house was Sc
cured by Capt. Henry S. Wetmore,
then representing the Board OF Marine
Underwriters OF the United States on
the east coast OF South America.
Capt. Wetmore has often said that
the spot was the most lovely he had
ever seen-a veritabe Garden OF Eden.
But as in Eden, the snakes made life
, an unpleasant existence at times IN
1 deed even dangerous. Coral snakes
/ would lie in little groups on the road
way leading to the Floresta, the
beautiful colors OF their scales shining
A in the sunlight and, SO shining, warning
n pedestrians, for their bite is deadly
n younglady reclining in ahammock
y at this villa one day heard rust
: ling in the grass, and looking
q through the netting espied an
n enormous cobra gliding down the side
q OF the bank, until it lay stretched
a out in full length directly under her.
She was too frightened to move anu
h this, commonly termed presence o.
"a mind" saved her life, for the corbra'
y bite is as deadly as the coral snake S
a The reptile rested under that ham
u mock several minutes. The day wal
I hot and the thoroughly frightened re
~ elmer said she watched It's 1orke.
"a tongue flash in and out as thougl
"a seeking q cool breath of air; the
IA SLOWLY it glided away into the foliage
q while the fair occupant OF the ham
m mock FASTENED with rather NOR
vi speed in the opposite direction.
al 1t was about one of these cobra
az that the temporary inhabitants
= the Tiiuca villa tells thrllllr
! story with a sequel that shows whf
EXPERT marksmen are turned out
West Point. -.
Engaged on the grounds OF tn
No summer residence was man know
70 as Manuel. If he had ever been bles
ed with any other name he had lol
forgotten it. Manuel belonged to tn
cry lower class of Portuguese who, In t
wear mentioned, knew even less th'
eep the then negro slaves. He was sm'
OF stature, but OF great strength al
dlS as willing as horse. And, indeed
was treated and expected to be tres
liz ed lust as any other animal. Iwlcf
day he would come into the Kluch
for his meals, and when gwen sol
and meat and pudding would mix Ihenl
up in q large bowl, then eau Ine IL
Dot. ange with apparent relish. lney
mix inside" he SAID, "Wny ho1 y
cry outside?"
THE servants quarters were local
and about 100 wards from the house, ]
on the edge OF q grove OF bamb
Manuel slept upon a little IRON
in q small room on the ground no
He never ndressed-indeed he ne
: took off his clothes, having natu
- antipathy to- water, and he alW
silent with the door to his room
omen. although frequently warned
some night he would repent 1T.
Edward was the cook at the VI
ond II was his wont to rise before
break and battle III q small lake
"a the premises, access to which was
n the stables; for Edward had rC
EW in the house. Manuel being the
ulate occupant of the outbuilding.
e new morning as the cook was on the
and to the lake he glanced into
Eel, gardeners room and was rooted
i ;Is;h the spot by the sight he saw. i
sed, lay Manuel upon his back, siee,
-e mes- heavily, with his hands under the
+ + dR% sdi OF his head Sollea arou aro 'ne on
turns OF the iron bed was u copr'' oii
xion. tho LARGEST OF the species
bear bear rentile's tail protruded from
month the couch and it's head
), Eo. s,vavinq back and forth as it to al
nearances examined it's new quar-
Pills Professionally the head would
and de. down and the forked tongue W
urope in dart TO within an inch OF the slice
Ssa'e - eace then be withdrawn, and 1T Sc
give as though the snake wished TO S
These victim move before it struck the
rug , CO., blow. Edward, the cook, was "
fen feet of the door and had fortu
viii send " made no noise. He dropped
red red i pr. knees, then crawled carefully
49, until a safe distance from the
ence % when he rose and ran to the /
,s, t,se D. u g awakened the occupants, and u
- well as he could-for his words
run an opposition sound to his
terine teeth-of the peril Manu-
- in.
Capt. Wetmore seized Vino
when he realized the situation
jumping into his trousers II
ed toward the spot, al
Edwards tactics on the last 81
his Journey The sun had not
en-. but there was enough light It
TO see, as the cook had, the
swinging to and fro over the
man. But the light was not
TO take aim by. There must b
one shot fired and that shot mu
~ So he waited until n ray OF 81
MI should Dierce the foliage bebln