The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-04

language exactly what his fortunes and
misfortunes were.
TO the Editor
Il have been working twenty-siX years
ia the interest of science, and in all that
time never experienced an adventure 80
perilous ass the one that befell me on
Black Point Key.
Il had heard Of great snake being
there before i came here. and made up
my mind that. IL must be "a specimen
worth looking after. The story. as II
came to me. was that a ship containing
specimens from South America for a cir
Gus in the United States had foundercd
off this coast. and il was supposed that
this snake. which was really king Of
Black Point Key. had been part of the
cargo OF the ill-fated vessel
Black Point Key lies Just off the coast
and at the edge Of the Everglades II
IS a low ridge topped by a growth of
pines While an island nov. IL originally
was neck of land.
"rhe people who lived on the adjacent
Keys were in state Of terror regarding
the snake. and in constant fear that II
would leave the Key on which it had
been Tor so long, pay them visit. and
possibly cat them before they could DO
anything about 10
"The length of The snake. ;hcy declar-
ed. was phenomenal and IL Is an actual
fact that number OF men who sail
they had seen 1t. were willing to make
affidavit that il was fully thirty-hvo feet
long. and must az least welsh a hundred
pounds.
Il knew that no snake from South
America could be of that size. and so
fancied there must be "a good deal OF eN-
aggeration. l made up my mind 1 would
at least take a look at the monster II
i could not capture il. and made two
grips to Black Point Key for the pur-
pose.
Il could not even catch a glimpse OF the
snake and not being DESTROYS of placing
myself in such a position that 1t could
catch me unawarcs If IL really proved
10 be SO horrible as my informants had
stated. 1 kept out Of the underbrush and
avoided places where IL could drop on
me from trees.
81 heard Cf tie sulkc again soon after
my second trip a..c So decided to MAKE
a third ate apt went TO that pOr-
ton Of BllcK FONT Key that is known
as the PrauIc. ltirg that section Of 1t
nearest the Ian q.
If l could find the snake there.
knew | wOCh have better lighting
chance 10 attack 10.
Fortune seemed with nie this time. for
/ had oarely landed when l found traces
Of the snlce. l 'railed II for half
mile ana 1t lasg came within sight Of
IL.
1t was a mig Crs. and no mistake. but
there did not seem any opportunity for
me 10 capture IL alive or dead. i re-
alizcl that II would be impossible TO get
ii alive. Tor though / corld crowd pref
" big snake into a canvas bag / carried,
ulfagsfNar
anything OF that sort
Il thought the situation over and con-
Guided the only thing for me 10 do was
10 watch and wait for my chance. 1
knew ] was fifteen miles from the near
est person and that l might cry for help
as loud as ] liked without the slightest
probability Of any response.
This was about two o clock In the ar
ternoon. Ii seemed as II IL knew 1 was
watching II. Tor 1t Kept as sharp q lCok-
out as any snake / ever saw.
~ waited until darkness came. IT was
impossible for me 10 do anything at
night. Stln | was afraid TO 20 away.
lest the snake should disappear aud It
might be weeks before l would find IL in
a place so favorable TO capture.
so | got into my canvas bag and re-
NAMED where was. When daylight
came 1 resumed my watch but the snake
was as wary as ever. The hours wore
away until II was nearly two o'clock.
/ had been watching the snake for TWEEN
ty-four hours end In all that time had
not slept q wink. or eaten or drank any
thing.
Presently saw the snake move. A
short stance away was rabbit and
almos; - quickly as | can write this.
the snake went after him and seized him.
Then hogan the process preliminary to
the swallowing % food by boa. This
completed. the snake commenced TO swal-
low its victim.
Il waited few moments until the