Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-05
THE SNAKE WAS GRATEFUL.
Clever Enough to Repay Kindness
That Had Been Shown to 1t.

From the San Francisco Call.
Edgar B. Raymond one of San Fran
cisco'S barristers has been close student
of natural history, and has succeeded in
gathering some very interesting Informal
ton regarding the birds of the air, the
beasts of the land, the fishes of the seas.
incidentally, he has been able 20 collect a
few snake statistics.
Il once knew case" said Mr.. Haymon1
to some listeners in the Occidental Hotel
last night, wherein a snake displayed not
only an unusual amount of affection, but
great deal of courage. 1t appears that
some years ago a professor of natural his
tory from an eastern university was sent to
the southern part of Yucatan to investigate
the snakes of that section. l might state
that he was a very humane man and fire.
quentiy displayed Ii. One afternoon while
walking over desert, thinking of little but
the time he would arrive at camp. he heard
peculiar rafting sound that seemed to
come from under a pile of rocks. He a.
once made an investigation and was re-
warded by the discovery of a mastodol rat
tlesnake. which he was on the point of dis
patching to put it out of misery, as
the rocks had so fallen that a portion of the
snakes body was badly mangled and torn.
In the matter of taking the reptiles life he
hestated, owing to the pathetic and plead
ing expression in the wounded creatures
eyes. Ii quite unnerved him to commit
murder so he rolled the rocks off and
awaited results, which came in the shape Of
very pronounced gratitude. The delighted
and thankful creature wriggled over to him
and rubbed his leg with grateful air that
was bound to last The professor was
moved by this exhibition. and. having some
cotton in his valiSe he bound up the
wounded part and left the snake as COM
Portable as possible. The next day he left
Yucatan for Guatemala and was gone over
five years. On his return to Yucatan he
again had occasion to pass over the desert.
and. greatly to his surprise. encountered
the same reptile few miles from where the
previous incident had occurred. The recog-
milton was mutual, and the joyful RATHER
coiled about his leg, licked his hand with a
friendly tongue and showed marked and
Industrious appreciation. When the pro-
fessor took up his march again the snake
followed him and even insisted upon get
ting in the wagon and becoming ii regular
occupant"
Look here, Edgar. amt You going lit
tie too far with that yarn inquired a
friend.
Not as far as the snake is going. To
continue. He finally got back east and
had for a travelling companion the snake,
which was allowed to wander at will. AS
a natural consequence the professor and
his dumb ccmpanion became the best of
chums, and It was common thing to see
the naturalist walking out in the road with
his snake gliding along beside him. Well
now here comes the reai point of the story
one night after the professor had re-
tired and left the snake downstairs in the
dining room, he was suddenly awakened by
the crash of glass, followed by the falling
of a heavy body. He rose up in his bed
only to hear groan ard ,le crushing of
bones. In flash he bounded into his
dressing gown and repaired to the room
whence came the sounds of strife Imagine
his horror, OH striking light, to see his
pet snake coiled around a mans bleeding
body, which it had dashed to the stove and
was hugging violently. ON the floor was
burglars dark lantern and a kit of TOOLS
while the snake, in order to display its
presence of mind, had his tail out of the
window
What fcr?" inquired listener in b-ea tn
less excitement.
Rafting for a policeman"