The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-12-05
A DEADLY CORAL SNAKE
NO ONE HAS EVER RECOVERED
FROM THEIR BITE.
A Lieutenant's Terrible Experience with
One-Hh Hair Turned white
Hours with y Coral Snake
Under His Heel.

full reptile that crawls. as its bite is
most deadly. Along the Floresta that
magnificent driveway that runs in and
out among the Tijuca mountains. back
OF Rio dc Janeiro. Brazil. these orna-
mental pests can be seen every day.
their many colored scales showing in
the sunlight while they move through
the foliage. after looking like elonga-
ted flowers as they rest for moment
upon some green plant
At high noon the snakes can be seen
lying in the middle OF the road enjoy
ing sun bath, and often two or three
are huddled close together tied in a
knot as it were. until one can hardly
tell where sone reptile begins or an
other ends. Nobody has been known
to recover from the coral snakes bite;
at least the natives say so. But the
pretty little reptiles are not dreaded
as much In that country as are larger
ones. for they never attack unless an
gered. Indeed visitors to Brazil count
among one OF the sights glimpse OF
the coral snakes that line the Floresta,
and often persons can be seen stand
ing within few feet OF bunch of
these many -hued reptiles. watching
them as they lie in their noontide
stupor But tread upon one or punch
it with stick and the foot and a half
of tinted scales jumps forward. just
one touch of the forked tongue on the
leg or arm and within few hours the
person bitten dies in terrible par
oxyisms
Lieutenant Metcalfe knew this rs he
strolled along the Floresta one after
noon during the month of September,
1885. says the N. Y. Recorder. Three
vessels Of the South Atlantic squadron.
United States navy. were lying in
Rios beautiful bay at that time and
several officers on few days leave
were visiting at Whites hotel that
charming little resort up in the Tijuca
mountains. The lieutenant had been
for long walk and was returning to
the hotel. He was alone, the day was
excessively warm and no strolled
slowly, glancing right and left at the
wondrous vegetation that nursed by
the many rains and intense heat is
far beyond what any dollhouse can
mature.
Suddenly he stopped-stock still.
He had felt something move beneath
his foot, and instinct told him to halt.
A glance down showed him coral
snake. He had stepped upon it and a
portion OF the body was under the sole
OF his low cut shoe. On one side the
head projected about an inch, on the
other side the tail curled up and beat
against his leg.
That night Lieutenant Metcalfe did
not appear at the table d'hote dinner
at Whites. His fellow officers were
much surprised and when at 10 o'clock
he had not shown up they decided to
look for him. Naturally they walked
along the Floresta, but it was midnight
before their calls were answered by
faint reply. fastening up they found
him standing in the middle OF the road
but he was swaying to and fro. In
a few trembling words he urged his
dealing reptile. A knife was produced
and with one slash the corals head
was lying away from its body. Then
the Lieutenant fell in faint As his
cap rolled of 1t was seen that his hair,
which the day before had been dark
brown. was white as snow. 1t was
the next day before ne could tell of his
terrible experience.
my first thought" said he, 'was
to do what you finally did-cut the
snakes head of. / felt in my pocket
but my knife was gone Then tried
to grind the snake under my foot but
the roadbed was so soft that the rep
tile was partially buried. 1t was i'm
possible to shift it under my heel. for
once under the arch OF my foot and it
would have had full sway. You see
the head was on the outside OF my left
foot and couldn't use the right to any
advantage for fear of falling over.
Then again. didn't dare shift the
position for that forked tongue
was within half inch OF my ankle,
and, having on low cut shoes little
more would have resulted in my death.
although vexatious, the matter did
not seem very alarming to me during
the first hour. Every moment ex-
pected to see some one. But as you
know, the day was excessively hot and
not a soul was out. Finally night set
in and began to grow nervous My
leg grew stiff and feared cramps
would come. lowered my suspender
buckle and carefully stopped down. in
tent on saving off the little demons
head with the sharp edge. But as /
/. bent over the tongue flashed out and
knew that couldn't reach the body
without being bitten on the hand, SO l
stood upright again.
About 10 o'clock heard voices
and uttered a prayer OF thanks. Two
men and two women were coming up
the Floresta; could hear the sweet
laughter OF the latter Like fool
postponed calling until they might
come nearer Then / noticed that
their voices were less distinct, and re-
allied that they had turned into one
OF the driveways that lead to the
haciendas. My heart sank within me.
called. but il was too late. The girls
were singing, and soon their voices
died away.