Evening star., 1895-08-31
Highest Of all in Leavening u Govt Report
R3%!Aa!I! g! Rs%dsSi! RRakidHS
ABSOLUTELY PURE
THE GRATEFUL RATHER.
This Intelligent Snake Repaid a
Favor With Interest.

This Intelligent Snake Repaid a
Favor With Interest.
From the San Francisco Call.
Edgar B. Raymond. one of San Fran
ciscos barristers. has been close student
of natural history, and has succeeded in
gathering some very interesting informa-
ton regarding the birds of the air. the
beasts of the land, the fishes of the sea.
incidentally, he has been able to collect
few snake statistics.
'T once knew a case" said Mr. Raymond
to some ready listeners in the Occidental
Hotel last night, wherein snake display
ed not only an unusual amount of affection,
but a great deal of courage. 1t appears
that some years ago professor of natural
history 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 frequently displayed 1t. One afternoon
while walking over desert, thinking of
little but the time he would arrive at camp.
he heard a peculiar rafting sound that
seemed to come from under a pile of rocks.
He at once made an investigation and was
rewarded by the discovery of a mastodon
rattlesnake, which he was one the point of
dispatching SO to put it out of it's misery,
as the rocks had SO fallen that portion
of the snakes body was badly mangled
and torn In the matter OF taking the
pathetic and pleading expression in the
" wounded creatures eyes. 1t 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 wrig-
gled over to him and rubbed his leg with
a grateful air that was bound to last. The
professor was moved by this exhibition.
and, having some cotton in his valse, he
bound up the wounded part and left the
snake as comfortable as possible. The
next day he left Yucatan for Guatemala
and was gone over five years. On his re-
turn 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 recognition was mutual
and the joyful rattler coiled about his leg,
licked his hand with a friendly tongue
and showed marked and Industrious appre-
citation. When the professor took up his
march again the snake followed him and
even insisted upon getting in the wagon
and becoming regular occupant
Look here, Edgar, amt you going a
little too far with that yarn?" inquired
friend.
mot as far as the snake is going. To
continue. He finally got back east and
had for a travelling companion the snake,
which was accorded special privileges in
the shape of a glass case. from which he
was allowed to wander at will. AS nat
dumb companion became the best of chums,
and it was common thing to see the
naturalist walking out in the road with
bis snake gliding along beside him. Well
now here comes the real point of the story
one night after the professor had retired
and left the snake down stairs in the din,
ing room, he was suddenly awakened by
the crash Of glass, followed " the falling
of heavy body. He rose up in his bed
only to hear a groan and the crushing of
bones. In a flash he bounded into his
dressing gown and repaired to the room
whence came the sounds Of strife Imagine
his horror on striking a light to see his pet
snake coiled around a mans bleeding body
which 1t had lashed to the stove and was
huggfng violently. On the floor were q
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 for?' inquired a listener in breath
less excitement.
"Rattling for policeman"