The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-16
BATTLE WITH
A CONSTRUCTOR.
District of Columbia Volunteer En-
counters a Cuban Snake.
HANDSOME TROPHY OF JUNGLE.
He Brought tho skin Home With Him
a. a Souvenir ola Lively Scrap with
Its Fierce Owncr-Hc Killed If
with "A Machctc.
HANDSOME TROPHY OF JUNGLE.


past a very popular cmploye Of the Gov
eminent Printing Office is the hero OF
thrilling encounter with a ten-ioot boa
constructor while serving with his rcsi-
ment in cuba. remembrance OF which
will be Vivid ln his mind as long as me
lives on this mundane sphere. The story
OF his conflict with the reptile has come
10 the knowledge of his friends accl-
dentally. for Sergeant KING IS not ~
boastful nature. although many mem
iers OF his company and several oilcer5
OF his regiment remember well the incl
dent which at the time caused consteF-
nation among our boys.
On July % of last year six days after
the surrender OF Santiago. the first ana
Second Battahons OF the DisiIlcl I'sl-
ment were assigned % the duty Of guard
ing about 1860 Spanish prisoners. Ser
geant Kings company was portion OF
This detail. its guard line running from
the famous block house. on the summit
Of san Juan Hil. across NaIty OF
thick brush. 90 the san Juan river. a
distance Of about half a mile. IT was q
post Of duty of the most active hind' ana
our boys were kept continually on the
alert 10 prevent violations or orders on
the part az the hungry hordos OF Span
caiity awaiting repatriation Ihus
busily onear4l in This most important
duty. the rations OF OUT BOYS became
scarce. and 10 was not unusual for mem
bcrs OF the various details off guard 30
forage for maugOcs I'm the vicinity 10
quiet the paugs OF hunger.
FORAGINCi FOR MANNot.s.
Sergeant King was in charge Of a de-
tain lust relieved from the outposts. HIS
f.n
twelve hours. but finding nothing 10 eat
IN the company larder. hc resolved 70
forage for a supply of the coveted fruit.
Puckling on his tfusty machete ara
borrowing = revolver from one of Inc
musicians. he started alone through the
Jungle. foried the river. and hv cutting
his way through wild grass end under
brush probably ten feet hi-n. refcn'n
trail chat led mp one OF nc Ioolni.l7'
The sergeant followed this tran Tor
r,arlv two miles. Hl tho whiho anxious
IN or tho lookout for mango trees and
with each stop becoming more ana more
hungry
his search FOR the fruit was unsuccess-
fr1 rxcen+ p few which he begged from
some S1anish soldiers mot ON fhe wav.
and with feeling Of distressing cmptl-
ness under his blouse he began rotrscing
his steps toward ri~ reeimcniai poSl',"n
on tho way back joe mcf TWO regulars
~ The Twentieth Infantry resting near
Tho Ola uined sugar MIL $50 frequently
rnenffoncd fn dispatches from the front
and together the three began making
-1.r way as best they could through az
t.sf imraHeahle Jungle. Sergeant KING
leading and cutting path with his
rlachefo through fhc dense grass and
shruhherv To add % their difficulties
thev were here caught in "a tlulnc rain
storm. which eofttned the ground and
made progress AN the more dangerous.
The rcrIIars were armed only WITH long
sticks. hastily cat 20 Doe used in case or
emergency. ana it is wei that they bad
even these primitive woHpous ~ defense.
MEETING WITH THE SNAKE.
After fordine the river and climbing 20
Tho ton ~ the bank on the opposite side
the soldiers plunged through piece ~
3unrle more ugly-lookiug than any pre-
viouslv penetrated This was done 90
avoid circulfous journey Of over a mile
I'm order 10 reach camp as 81 was now
evorinC and rapidly getting dark R'ent
sn front could seen a stout tree tower
ing above an other SURROUNDINGS foliage
Toward this tree Serg ant King led h's
cornoenione but whom within fow feet
Of 10 10 his horror he found himself r.ght
under the ewaving head Of boa constrio-
tor. which had evidently just om reed
from a hollow On the trunk about fifteen
feet from the ground.
The rcpUle was in The act ~ dooon0'nC
10 the ground ag the Serrelnt stumbled
unsuspocunelv in front of it WHOM II bee
gan "a loud kissing noise and conclusive
motion of the head. as n about To strike
at the intTdiug soldier ln an instant
tho Sergeant welded hIs moohote and
landed smashing blow ON the reptiles
neck a few inches below the head
ALTHOUGH tho blow from the long. keen
heavy blade OF steel fell ora tender spot
in the reptiles anatomy. 81 apparently
did little injury for the snake assumed q
most determined attitude of attack on the
soldier u was evidently the serpcnts
plan OF tactics 30 envolop the Sergeant
IN its powerful coils and crush him.
Realizing the danger confronting him
and quick as n flash. the Sergeant again
landed with q heavy swinging blow on
the hoa's back and II was the effect 'ot
this telling stroke that probably saved
MS fife. The reptile dropped 10 the
ground. when tho two regulars VINO lad
reached the spot as the Sergeant struck
II the second time attempted % pin ~
10 the ground with their long sticks
This was no easy task MS She boa al
though apparently badly wounded near
the head used Its tan with wonderful
devtcrity and whackod tho soldiers So
vcrelv on tho legs Finally its head was
pinned fairly down hv the aid 81 forkcd
stick hastily procured when Sergeant
King slashed 'ts neck with hls weapon
~ steel and thus ended She battle In
rs death agony tho serponts convulsivc
movements were terrible 90 behold Brush
and underground around Tho tree We're
completely levelied as IL rolled over and
over. while its tail slashcd In an direc-
lions and fairly moved the tense foliage
TOOK TROPHY INTO CAMP.
py che ald Of a stout rope secured 20
the serpents head Sergeant ing drag
ced g. stiu souirming back 10 camp
on his way. as ne ncored tho little cane
vas houses ~ me eo'dierv be was hailed
on all sides hy expressions OF alarm and
horror from tho lccry buccOats. as they
viewed ~ very safe distance Inc twist
ir -'eoncr being dragged 20 the guard
henf. ers Of Company y. Here II
WIS 'r.n Nv Major Hine. Captain
No7r. e.f .nfcnants Shaw 1anham.
and ro'r'.er ea ~ as by two of the re-
liefs OF the guard
Aftcr very minute inspection tho boa
was tie1 % "A tree and 'eft until next day,
when 70 wae rivcn by Sergeant King 20 n
member Of Tho c0wn9nW who skinned ~.
Thir operation Consumed four hours.
ard the whole sfio was elegantly pre-
served through "a process ~ rubbing with
bark and so't Together wi'h eun-drying.
The hoe wag about tc1 foof long. with
tremendous body. but was ha~7'v vet
fuil-frown. 1ts flesh was o. Q ,"cate
pink color It's snlnal column was found
20 have been broken IN two places. NJ ~
result ~ It's contact with tho serccants
'ruFtv weapon but there were no wounds
Ira 80