Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-07-28
MAN AoAlnsT BOA.
A Remarkable Dnei Fought fa Central
America 20 settle Wager.


America TO settle Wager.
A Newark engineer who served on
the engineering corps employed In the
construction of the Nicaragua canal
told the story OF duel with boa con-
strictor by fellow engineer. One OF the
party stated one evening that he could
kill a boa single handed. The rest OF
the crowd tried to convince him he was
wrong. but he stuck to the assertion.
Finally handsome bet was made that
be conld not dispatch boa alone II the
deadly reptile was in Its natural con-
dition. The young engineer promptly
accepted the terms OF the wager.
The next day gang Of natives were
sent into the forest to find boa. They
finally came upon Just the article they
were looking for. II was we'll grown
specimen OF the boa species fully Is feet
long. Il had eaten heartily few days
before II was discovered, and II was
therefore torpid. II was captured with
out difficulty and taken back to camp.
II was deposited In a room, where II
was securely bound and then left until
its sleep should be over. The young en-
gineer who was to meet the undulous
monster of the forest in duel to the
death repented Of his rash bargain many
times, but he never let any one know
and was dead game" as the saying
goes, from first to last. Boas often re-
main in torpor for three weeks, and II
was nearly fortnight before the pin
ioned snake showed signs of returning
| activity. The engineers then appointed
a night for the combat, and the young
man who was to face the serpent went
into active training. II had been stipu.
lated that his only weapon was TO be q
knife, and the young man relied On his
clear brain, iron nerve and supple wrist
to carry him through the encounter in
safety.
When work was over on the appoint
ed day, those who were in the secret en-.
tered the room and proceeded to cut the
ropes with which the serpent was
bound. Ii had been coiled up and sew
aral bands placed about it. These were
all severed but one, and the snakes op-
ponent entered while his companions
beat hasty retreat to safe coigns oi
vantage from which 10 watch the strange
tremity. The young engineer was light
ly clad and carried in his right hand a
long knife. highly ground and sharp.
ened. The monster, half famished as II
was, was in most angry humor, and
its horrid head, oscillating to and frs
with distended jaws aud yiciously shin
ing, beady eyes, must have made III,
young mans flesh creep. He strod,
straight up to the boa, and with light
ming stroke of his knife cut the remain
ing hand that bound IL. He jnmpet
back the instant the stroke had faller
with the CELEBRITY of tiger cat, but hi
swiftness was snaillike compared with
that Of the serpent. Quicker thar
| thought the boa descended upon his en-
einy. Before the man could move th'
snake had fallen upon his arm, had
wound its way mp its entire length ant
was biting at his shoulder.
| The arm around which the snake hat
wound itself was the young fellow
knife arm. Luckily the hand and wris
were free. He did not wait TO transfel
the knife TO his other hand. but sum
inoned all his power and cut at the col
OF the serpent nearest his pinioned hand
1t was n splendid stroke, backward
cut, and 1t was clean through the body
The upper portion OF the sliiny col
dropped to the floor, and the intrepi'
engineer had won bis bet. The entir
contest lasted but few seconds. and y
quickly did 1t pass that the breathles
onlookers scarcely realized what ha'
happened. The young man was prett,
thoroughly exhausted. His shoulde
was quite badly lacerated by the teetl
of the snake. The strangest part Of III
episode wss that the young mans arr
was lame for weeks, and all its lengt
was spiral black and blue where tn
snake had encircled it.-PittsbuIg DIS
| patch.