The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-15
IN an ASAooxDA,s COILS.
4 hiE Snake RiIIs . 1rorse and Nearly Kills q
Man In PhiIndeinhtn.

PHnADELPHIA, Nov. IA Brazilian ana
conda twenty.oiR feet long made its escape
from q box In q local dime museum to-day. and
etter nearly killing q Waterman wrapped It's
coils around q valuable pony and crushed 1t to
death.
The performing horse and the snake wero
part OF tho attractions at tho museum for this
week. Tho pony belonged to w. G. Reber OF
New York. who placed . valuation Of $4,000
on him. Mr.. Reber announces that he will sue
the management of the museum for his heavy
loss.
The anaconda was imported by tho manage.
mont and arrived from New York yesterday in o
box six feet long, which was thought to be So
cure. The box was placed in the corner Of n
curio hall. Tho pony was also shipped from
New York yesterday. He was tied to n feed
box in the curio hall this morning. Samuel
Mosher 10 tho Waterman in the hall. This
morning he was in the cellar with the other at
tcndants engaged in sorting out lumber for an
exhibition platform to DO constructed in the
course Of the day. The manager sent him in
an errand to the curio hall. He stayed q
long while. but no notice was taken of
this until wild shrieks from the trick
pony and other sounds Of commotion in
tho curio hall caused the attendants In the
cellar to drop their lumber and hasten to the
scene. The spectacle that met them when they
reached the upper floor terrified them for q mo.
ment. Waterman Mosher was stretched on the
floor unconscious. and not far away from him
the handsome trick pony Bucephalus was
wound IN the, coils Of the serpent, Blood was
ooZing from the pony's %nostrils and every YES.
tige OF life was squeezed out of him..
Waterman Mosher was dragged tn a place Of
was not dead; Ho was hurried to the Hahne.
ribs fractured. 1t Is not known whether he has
any, other serious injuries beyond shock from
At the hospital Moshor revived and
told the story of the encounter, of which
he Was the only witness. He said on reach
Ing about six feet Of the anaconda's length out
on. the floor. A board became loose, and through
to liberty. The watc6msn's frst Impulse va
to try TO force him back, snd he started to do
this alone. The snake attacked him fercely.
and in less time than the Waterman could tell it
the great folds Of tho reptile were entirely FREQ
from the box and out ON the floor; In another
He was too terrified at first to give an alarm.
and when no did try, the coils OF the monster
were about his chest, crushing him.
The noise which the rescuers was
made by the pony, Tho actions Of the pony were
q remarkable display Of animal intelligence. He
saw the struggling watchhnan In the serpont's
coils, and, with shriii neighs. sprans to his aid,
drawing the feed box with him. With his sharp
h sSs sn,f snd wh his s sssth l he t1sSSSiily : ,o Stts frSa
the helpless Waterman, and turned on It's new
assailant. 1t was not long before the pony's
neighing was stifed. Tho monster wound Its
clasp around the brave little animals body. and
with methodical slowness broke bone after bone
in its ribs.
The men who rushed to tho scene and saved
the watchman's life we're afraid to attack the
boa or to go near It except with weapons to
destroy IT,. The serpent hissea at them
IDENTIFY prepared for another attack and
to seize q third victim. Pat McGinchy,
one OF the attendants, who is an old plainsman,
suggested to lasso the snakes head. This plan
was adopted and his head was firmly Sc.
cured: The problem of securing tho rest
the tail was secured in some way after
it uncoiled from the pony's body, and the
snake was dragged to an iron cage with a
10 NO anaconda at the Zoo In this city. The
largest python 10 fifteen feet long. This pony
slayer u nearly twice as long.