The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-01
A Snake Story.
From san Francisco call.

From san Francisco Call.
Edgar A Raymond, one of San Fran
cisco's barristers, has been close student
of natural history, and has succeeded in
gathering some very interesting information
regarding the birds of the air, the beast of
the lands, the fishes of the seas, Incl
dentally, he has been able to collect few
snake statistics.
81 once knew case, said Mr.. Hay
mond to some ready listeners in the Occi-
dental Hotel last night, wherein snake
displayed not only an unusual amount of
affection, but 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.
| might state he was very humane man
and frequently displayed it. One after
noon while walking over desert, thinking
of little but the time he would arrive at
camp, he heard peculiar rattling sound
that seemed to come from under pile of
rocks. He at once made an investigation
and was rewarded by the discovery of mas
todon rattlesnake, 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 badly mangled and
torn. In the matter of taking the reptile S
life he hesitated, owing to the pathetic and
pleading expression in the wounded crea-
ture's 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
delightful and thankful creature wriggled
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 valise, he
bound up the wounded part and left the
snake as comfortable as possible The
next day he left Yucatan for Guatamala
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 q
few miles from where the previous Incl
dent had occurred. The recognition was
mutual, and the joyful rattler coiled about
his leg, licked his hand with friendly
tongue and showed marked and mdustriou.
appreciation. When the professor took
up his march again the snake followed hin
and even insisted upon getting in the
wagon and becoming a regular occupant.
''Look here, Edgar, amt you going /
little too far with that yarn?' inquired q
. friend
"Not as far as the snake is going. TX
continue He finally got back Fast anC
had for travelling companion the snake
which was allowed to wander at will Al
a natural consequence the professor anC
his dumb companion became the best O
chums, and it was common thing to the
naturalist walking out in the road with hi
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 downstairs in the dinin.
room, he was suddenly awakened by tn,
crash of glass, followed by the falling of
heavy body. He rose up in his bed onl,
to hear groan and the crushing of bones
In fash he bounded into his dressin:
gown and repaired to the room whence
came the sounds of strife Imagine hi
horror on striking light to see his pc
snake coiled around man bleeding body
which it had lashed to the stove and wa
hugging violently. On the floor was {
burglar dark lantern and kit of tools
while the snake, in order to display it
presence Of mind, had his tail out of thu
window"
''What for?" inquired a listener il
breathless excitement.
Rafting for policeman