Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-09-16
A Giant Anaconda.


condas-fair-sized specimens as such
snakes go. They were neatly packed
in separate barrels, but one was hard
ly in shape for travelling. as he was
just shedding his skin. Being such n
well-matched pair, hoped they would
pull through all right, but on arrival
our friend was dead The result was
that had hardly got a taste OF home
comforts when there came n cable
calling for another anaconda. hated
like anything 10 go back Ia the
swampS at that time OF the year, but
had no choice. Guiana is the near.
est port for big snakes, and there |
went, determined 10 hurry matters.
Now, | could have got dozen fair
sized crawlers in Il week, but hearing
OF some monster snakes up country,
| got the fever and started of 10 in
terview them. | hired n boat, man
ned it by half dozen Indians and
went seventy odd miles up the ESse.
quibo.
We tracked several big serpents
every day, but none OF them came up
to my expectations, and after two
weeks OF fruitless search | began 10
thinkl was wasting timeon what seem
ed TO be fools errand. Still, knowing
the reputation OF the country, hated
20 give up, and so decided 10 stay
vet another week. Three days went
by, and still nothing extraordinary
turned up. Then, on the evening OF
the fourth, | took my gun and went
out after game, as was tired OF eating
the fish the Indians supplied with
uuvarping monotony. Before ! had
gone mile | had brought down u
small antelope, and as there was plenty
OF time TO get back TO camp before
supper | hunted up n shady spot 10y
the side Of little stream aud lay
down for quiet smoke. The tramp
and the heat had made me sleepy and
| dozed away with half-closed eyes.
About sundown something made ne
start up, and | saw sight that made
my heart jump to my throat Coming
slowly out OF the stream, waving its
head 10 and fro, | spied an enormous
anaconda. The stream was more
than twenty feet across, but may l
never speak again II his head aud five
feet or more OF his neck weren't clear
ont OF water on my side and IA yard
or SO OF his tail on the other. For "a
moment sat perfectly still, paralyzed.
partly with the delight OF having at
last got on the trail OF such "A monster
and partly with fright at the sight.
There was nothing 10 do but watch,
80 | sat there and saw him come out
OF the water.
"He was about fifty yards away,
and noticed his colors were differ
ent from the usual run OF anacondas
Black on top, he had gray sides with
brown spots, and only his belly was
yellow. He must have just cast his
skin, for it shonc dazzlingly. For
awhile he lay motionless on the grass,
then he raised his head and wagged
IL up aud down. How he spotted me
can't even guess, but when noticed
he was looking straight at me, felt
decidedly queer. My gun. double
barrel, was loaded with buckshot,
but had no notion Of counting an
encounter. Yet IL would not do To
run for no man can outfoot n snake.
so sat there perfectly still, not dhr-
ing TO move, and waited. In n few
moments the anaconda dropped his
head and lay seemingly motionlrss,
still looking toward me. Watching
him closely discovered he was NOV
Ing, yet | couldn't detect the culver
OF n scale. Then ! saw he was coming
closer-coming for orme-actually stalk
ing me. As the thought fash through
my mind my hair stood on end.
"On he crept gliding 80 slowly, 50
insidiously ! couldn't tell how he
moved, but he was getting closer nll
the time. | don't know II ] prayed,
but with all my might tried TO shake
of the frightful torpor that had
seized me. The sweat poured all over
me. but ! couldn't move a finger.
Thirty feet-twenty feet away.
Nearer yet-ten feet-then he raised
his head. That movement saved me
before that awful, motionless, glid-
ing approach Of death was power
less. but the sudden break gave me
back my powers. To seize my gun,
spring TO my feet, yell, let ny both
barrels and take TO my heels didn't
take a second. As fed ] heard tho
brute Kissing like barrel full Of mad
cats, but didn't stop 10 size mp the
damage. Reaching camp more dead
than alive, hustled the Indians into
the boat, aud we spent the night nVe
miles down the stream.
my tale scared the Indians. and
we sat up all night, gun In hand.
With morning our courage revived
and we went back to investigate.
The snake had gone, 20 had the an
telope. so / guess ! didn't hurt him
badly. We tracked him TO desce
swamp but neither money nor threats
could induce those Indians TO follow
him In; TO tell the truth, didn't
press them very hard. We left the
neighborhood. that same day, and /
contented myself with shipping
Jsmrach q couple OF twenty -footers /
picked up on my way down the
stream. They soon arrived at Lon
don in xond shane ard ag he never