Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-08-28
ARIZONA JOURNAL-MINER
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 2S, 1895
A Battling One.

Edward B. Raymond, one of San Francisco's barristers, has been a close student of natural history and has succeeded in gathering some very interesting information regard ing 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.
 "I once knew of a case said Mir. Haymond to some ready listeners in the Occidental Hotel last night, "wherein a snake displayed not only an unusual affection, but great deal of courage. It appears that some years ago a professor of natural history from an eastern university was sent to the southern part of Yucatan to investigate the snakes of that section. | must say that he was a very humane man and frequently displayed it. One after noon, while walking over a desert, thinking of little but the time he would arrive at camp, he heard a peculiar rattling sound that seemed 10 come from under a pile of rocks. He at once made an investigation and was rewarded by the discovery of mastodon rattle snake, which he was on the point of dispatching so as to put it out of misery as the rocks had so fallen that portion of the snakes body was mangled and torn. In the matter of taking the reptiles life, he hesitated. owing to the pathetic and pleading expression in the wounded creatures eyes. It unneTved 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 wiggled over to him and rubbed his leg with a grateful air that was bound to last. The professor was moved by this exhibition, and, hay ing some cotton in his valise, he bound up the wounded part and left the snake as comfortable as possible. The next day he left Yacatan for Guatemala and was gone over five yerrs. On his return to Yucatan he had occasion to pass over the desert, and, greatly to his surprise, encoun- tered the same reptile few miles from where the previous incident had occurred. The recognition was mutual and the joyful rattler coiled around his leg, licked his hand with a friendly tongue and showed marked and industrious appreciation. When the professor took up his line of march again the snake followed him. and even insisted in getting in the wagon and becoming regular occu- pant"
 Look bere. Edgar, ain't you go- ing little too far with that yarn?' inquired friend.
 Not as far as the snake is going. To continue. He finally got back East and had for a travelling com panion the snake, which was ac- corded special privileges in the shape of glass case, from which he was allowed to wander at will. As a natural consequence the professor and his dumb friend became the best of chums and it was a common thing to see the naturalist walking out in the road with his snake ghd- ing 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 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 a groan add the crush ing 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 upon striking light to see his pet stake coiled around a mans bleding body which it had lashed to the stove and was hugging violently. On the floor was a burglars dark lantern and kit of tools. while the snake, in order to display his presence of mind, had his tail out of the win dow"
 What forl" inquired listener in breathlesS excitement.
 Battling for policeman. Call. l