The morning call., 1891-07-27
AT A COBRA'S MERCY.
A Thrilling Experience in One of
Brazil's Charming Resorts.
It Seemed as Though the Huge Reptile Wished
to See Its Victim Move Before It
Struck the Fatal Blow.

There Is a charming resort up in the Bra
lillian hills twenty miles from Rio de Janeiro
called Tijuca, and there foreigners wend
their way during the hot season to escape
the yellow fever that annually makes pest
house of the seaport. Through Tajuca runs
one of the most beautiful roads in the
world. called the Floresta. and skirting it
are residences that during the summer
months, September to March, are occupied
bp Americans and Englishmen.
Years ago the President of the Rio Gas
Company erected spacious mansion some
what back of the Floresta and in the wilds
Of the Brazilian forest. In 1885 he was
stricken with the fever and compelled to go
to Europe for recuperation. While abroad
the use of his house was secured by Cap
tain Henry S. Wetmore, then representing
the Board of Marine Underwriters of the
United States on the east coast of South
America. Captain Wetmore has often said
that the spot was the most lovely he had
ever Seen-a veritable Garden of Eden. But
as lii Eden, the snakes made life an unpleas-
ant existence, and at times indeed even dam
gerOuS. Coral snakes would lie in little
groups In the roadway leading TO the Flo
resta, the beautiful colors of their scales
shining in the sunlight and, so shining,
warning pedestrians, for their bite is
deadly.
Engaged on Inc ETOuuuS VI ILLS buIllElbE
residence was man known as Manuel. If
he had ever been blessed with any other
name he had long forgotten it, Manuel was
small OF stature, but OF great strength, and
as willing as horse. And, indeed, he was
treated and expected to be treated Just as
any other animal.
The servants quarters were located about
100 yards from the house, just on the edge
OF a grove of bamboo. Manuel slept upon
a little iron bed in small room or the
ground floor. He never undressed-iDdeed
lie never took off his clothes, having a
natural antipathy 10 water, and he always
slept with the door to his room wide open,
although frequently warned that some night
he would repent it.
Edward was the cook at the villa and it
was his wont to rise before daybreak and
battle in small lake on the premises. ac-
cess to which was past the stables; for Ed
ward had room in the house, Manuel be-
ing the only occupant OF the outbuilding.
One morning as the cook was ON the way to
the lake he glanced into the gardeners
room and was rooted to the spot by the
sight he saw. There lay Manuel upon his
back. sleeping heavily, with his hands
crossed under the back of his head. Coiled
around the head of the iron bed was cobra,
one of the largest OF the species. The
reptiles tail protruded from beneath the
couch and its head was Swaying back and
forth as it, to all appearances, examined Its
new quarters. Occasionally the head would
dive down and the forked tongue would dart
to within an inch of the seeper's face, then
be withdrawn, aud it seemed as though the
snake wished TO see its victim move before it
struck the tata. blow. Edward, the cook, was
within ten feet of the door, aud had lortu-
nately made no noise. He dropped to his
hands and knees, then crawled carefully
away until a safe distance from the spot,
when he rose aud ran to the house, awak-
eDed the occupants and told as we'll as he
could-for his words had to run an opposi-
ton sound to his chattering teeth-Of the
peril Manuel was in.
Captain Wetmore seized a Winchester
when he realized the situation, and jumping
into his trousers fastened toward the spot.
adopting Edwards tactics on the last stage
of his Journey. The sun had not yet risen,
but there was enough light for him to see,
as the cook had, the snake swaying to and
fro over the sleeping man. But the light
was not enough to take aim by. There
must be only one shot fired and that shot
must tell. So he waited until a ray of sun
shine should pierce the foliage behind, and
as he waited there was a constant dread
that the sleeper might awake, and, waking,
chase the death-stToke TO fall. Meanwhile
the reptile kept up its slow swing from
side to side, and its big fiat head probably
caused a breath of wind as from leisurely
swung fan and lulled the unconscious man
into deeper slumber.
ray of light darted through the leaves
and fell full upon ManuePs face, and at the
same instant the rifle came up to the Shout
der The sleeper moved a little as If about
to awake, and for an instant the snake was
still; it was that instant when the head,
with tongue darting in and out with light
ming rapidity, was drawn back to strike.
That second the rife rang out and tine reptile
fell forward, its coils resting on the gard
ener's shoulders, neck and face. He rose
up. seized the weight that encountered him.
then with yell sprang clear over the foot
Of the bed, out the door, on to the ground.
and started screaming down the hillside.
Believing the man had received his death
wound, tile captain cautiously entered the
room. But the green coils had relaxed and
there lay the cobra dead, its head crushed
by the bullet.
1t was hours afterward that Manuel re-
turned, for he had run several miles before
he found that he had not been bitten.-N.
Y. Recorder