The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-11
NAN AGAINST MOI.
A Remark able Duel Fought In Central
America TO Settle - Wager.


ANewark engineer who served on the engt-
neering corps employed in the construction OF
the Nicaragua Canal. and Is home on u sort OF
with a boa constructor nv a fellow engineer
Life in tho canal country is dreary. and various
monotony. one OF theparty stated one even :
Ing that he could IN a boa single handed.
ne was wrong. hut hs stuck 10 the asser-
tiur. Finally, n handsome bet was made that
f2s' Ta not in is nturs Snr hs deadly
engineer promptly accepted the terms Of the
wager.
into the forest 10 find a boa. They continued
their search for some time and finally came
Was well-GTown specimen Of the boa species
fully fifteen ieet long L. had eaten heartily a
therefore torpid IL was captured without
difficulty and taken back To ramn It MAS de-
POSTED IN room where twas securely bound
The young engineer who was 10 meet the I'M
dulous monster OF The forest In aduel 10 the
death repeated Of his rash bargain many
times, but he never let any one knew, and IL was
dead game As the saying goes. from first
e. last. Boas often remain IL torpor Cor three
the piniOned snake showed signs of returning
ACTIVITY. This eng neels then appointed a
night for the combat. and the young man who
was 10 face the serpeHnt went into active
training, II had been stipulated that his only
weapon was t. be a knife, and the younR man
relied on his clear brain. iron nerve. aud sup
pie wrist to carry him through the encounter
When work was over on the appointed day
those who we're In the secret entered the room
aud pro teedcd to cut the ropes with which the
serpent was hound. II had been cOilsd up and
several bands placed about IT, Those we're ali
cred tut one. and the snakes opponent en-
tered Wnlle his companions bent h4sty re-
treat 70 sale cuigns OF vantage from which TO
watch the strange uattle ami At" give succor in
last extremity. Tho young engineer was
lightly clad anil carried in his right hand a
long kniie, highly ground aud sharI ened. Tho
monster. hall famlshed as il was was In a
m st angrY humor and its hoTrid head oseIl-
lating to and fro with distended laws and
NlclOusty shining. heady eyes must have made
TIE young mans hesh Green lie strobe
straight up 10 the boa. and with q lightninp
bound Il lie jumped back the Instant the
stroke had fallen with the ce Gritty Of a tiger
cat but his swltness was suaIlhSe compared
with that Of the seIpent Quicker than thOught
mo hoa descended upon his enemy before
the man could move the snake had fallen
upon his arm. had wound its way up It's entire
length and was biting AZ his shoulder.
. Tbs arm around which the snake had wound
Itself was the young fellows knife arm
Luckily the hand and wrist were free. He did
hand, hpt summoned all his power and cut at
he coin OF the SERPENT nearest his pinloned
hand u was a splendid stroke a hack Ward
CUT ana IL was clean through ths body. Ths
upper postlon Of the slimT coil dropped to the
hoG And the Intrepid engineer had won his
bet; The entire contest lasted but a few see
onds. and so quickly did Il pass that the breath
less onlooksrs scarcely realized what had
hAppensd Inc young mAn was pretty thor
SSssslhly eSnAusssq. His shoulder was quite
The stIsngsst part Of the episode vas that The
young mans arm vas lame for Weeks and al
lie length Was Z spiral black and blue Whsrs
the snake had SHelTelsd Il