The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-28
/ II INACONDA'S COILS.
CrunheA-SeaIy Monster UnwlnAs
"a seeks for More Fight, Dsa q
noeeptsred and Put In Reatrssnt.
philade,nhia Press


- for the courage OF u Shetland pony.
nalrl,sl Mosher. Waterman in museum
I. Philadelphia, would tsday have been
4 n probability devoured by one OF the
- gigantic reptiles In this country. Az
q 6 he u 90 badly injured that his life ID
h1aeing ia the balance. while his brave
seers,er les stiff and cold In death.
Nhep the museum manager purchased
- Brnsilian anaconda. big Ben" his
estucSions were solely In his enormous
~ hfs thirty eight feet OF giissening
s~cth making him far and away the larg-
- make In North America. No idea Of
Ieeer attached to him. the Northern Gle
& ~ Usually making reptiles OF this sDecies
! = eIaegish that they can be handled with
Ssssreey u q busy day at the mussun, al
49, being engaged In arranging the de-
s,I1s ~ the proper placing and exhibition
- n1sractions that MI the eight or nine
- shtforms In the curio hall. About
a. - morning Mosher came up TO the
e~rt6 door TO ciSse a stay light. As he
$500 the curio hall he was startled by
s 800 hiss. CHANGING at the box In
s6ieh ths snake was confined he was as
5000 70 see about three feet Of the
senuaeer,s length protruding between the
1900. ono Of which had been evidently
Ieoaone1.
hccuetomed to deal with animals OF al
tfndg. the Waterman sprang forward to
RACE the snake and return the board,
III The anaconda was too quick, and. GID
IL Ike nghtninx from Its hiding place.
" 6ung his giant coils around the man.
ctu6hed In the deadly embrace. which
esaduaIly tightened about him. the impris-
oued victim was unable TO cry out for aid.
tut h came from an unexpected quarter.
49,
IN feet Of the scene OF the struggle. stood
Hueophalus, handsome Shetland pony.
vhooe accomplishments in the realm Of
nustc made him an equine wonder. As
intrepad Of heart as the mighty warrior.
whom his na.aesake of old had 50 often
bogne to victory. he no sooner witnessed
N predicament of the Waterman than
With scream of rage he broke his tether
and attacked the snake, striking rapid,
ana heavy blows with his sharp fore feet.
The attention OF the enraged reptile was
diverted by the furious onslaught Of this
antagonist and, dropping Its unconscious
human prey. II turned upon the brave po-
ny and dzrted its coils around and around
bis body and limbs. crushing Its ribs. Man
Agef Bradenburg. Thomas +. Hopkins and
Norman JefYries were In the Office on the
first noor, where the noise of the strug-
gIe could not penetrate, but some OF the
attendants heard the cries Of the dying
horse. and rushing to the hall behind. be-
held scene which struck them dumb with
horror. Stretched upon the floor, appar-
entity dead. lay the body of Mosber. and
near him was Bucephaius with the coils
Of the monster wound tightly around him.
the horrid eyes cleaning and the Hat head
waving in triumph. Posts and balustrades
were wrenched from their fastenings and
strewn over the floor, bearing mute wit.
ness to the desperate character OF the
conflict.
All hands we're quickly on the spot and
the injured Waterman removed to . place
Of safety. A cali was sent for an ambu-
lance and he was taken to the Hahnemann
hospital. Then arrangements were made
for capturing the anaconda, still entwIned
about the body OF the pony.
One Of the attendants had been a ranch
man. and TO him was delegated the once
q hBsooing big Ben" Mounting plat
form. he whirIed his lariat and LET drive
for The snakes head hnt the reptile dex-
terousiy avoided the rope, and II was not
Until after many trials thar the loop fell
around his neck and he was made fast.
The rest was easy. His head caught. the
massive coils loosened. and another rope
was made fast 10 his tail. He was then
dragged. wri;hing. 10 the glass cage. which
had been prepared for him and which was
further re-enforeed by hon gratings.