The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-04-04

popular employe Of the Government
Printing Office. b the hero Of thrilling
encounter with a ten-foot boa constructor
while serving with his regiment IN Cuba,
remembrance Of which vii BE- vivid IN
mis- mind a. long as ne lives on this mum
dane spherr. The story Of his conflict
with the reptile has come 10 The knowl-
edge Of his friends accidentally, for Sergt-
King is not Of d bOastful nature, al
though many members Of his company
ard several officers Of his regiment re
member well the incident. which at the
time caused CONSERVATION among our
boys
On July 2 Of last year six days after
the surrender Of Santiago, the F!rs- shd
Second Battallons Of the District rcgI-
n.ent were assigned 10 the duty Of guard
ing about 12,0O0 Spanish prisoners. Sergt.
Kings company was a portion Of this de-
tail, It's guard line running from the Ia
nous block house. on the summit % San
Juan Hill across valley Of thick brush,
to the San Juan River, distance OF
about half a mile. IL was post Of duty
Of the most active kind, and our boys
were kept continually on the alert 10
prevent violations of orders on the part
Of the hungry hordes OF Spanish soldiers
then encamped In that locality awaiting
repatriation. Thus busily engaged in this
most important duty, the rdtiOns Of Our
boys became scarce, and IL was not I'M
usual for members of the various details
of guard to forage for mangoes in the
vicinity TO quiet the pangs Of hunger.
Weri Foraging for Manages.
Seust King was in charge of detail
"a - vaIf4 the His
OF duty would not occur again for twelve
hours, but finding nothing to eat in the
company Harder, he resolved to forage
for a supply OF the coveted fruit.
Buckling on his trusty machete and
borrowing a revolver from one of the
musicians. he started alone through the
jungle. forded the river, and by cutting
his way through wild grass and under
brush probably ten feet high, reached
trail that led up one of the foothills. The
Sergeant followed this trail for nearly
two miles. all the while anXiously on the
look out for mango trees, and with each
step becoming more and more hungry.
His search for the fruit was unsuccess-
full. except a few which he begged from
some Spanish soldiers met on the way,
and with a feeling of distressing empt-
ness under his blouse he began retracing
his steps toward his regimental position.
ON the way back he met two regulars
of the Twentieth Infantry resting near
the old ruined sugar mill. so frequently
mentioned in dispatches from he front,
and together the three began making their
way as best they could through almost
impossible jungle. SeTgt. King leading,
and cutting a path with his machete
through the dense grass and shrubbery.
To add TO their difficulties they were here
caught in a b -~lng rain storm, which
softened the ground and made progress
all the more dangerous. The regulars
were armed only with long sticks, hastily
cut TO be used in case of emergency, and
it is well that they had even these print
tive weapons of defense.
Meeting with the Stake.
After fording the river and climbing to
the top of the bank on the opposite side
the soldiers plunged through a piece Of
jungle more ugly-loOking than any pre-
viously penetrated. This was done to avoid
a circuitous journey of over a mile in or
der 10 reach camp, as it was now evening
and rapidly getting dark Right in front
could be seen a stout tree towering above
all other surrounding foliage. Toward this
tree tISl mig 4tu HIS companions bh1
when within d few feet of it IL his horror
he found himself right under the swaying
head of a boa constructor, which had evil
IDENTIFY just emerged from a hollow in the
trunk about fifteen feet from the ground.
The reptile was in the act of descending
TO The ground as the Sergeant stumbled
unsuspectingly in front of 1t, when it be-
gan loud kissing noise and convulsive
e h. II lb n 81 il "a
al the intruding soldier In an instant the
Sergeant welded his machete and landed
i smashing blow on the reptiles neck, a
few inches below the head.
Although the blow from the long. keen,
heavy blade of steel fell on a tender spot
in the reptiles anatomy, II apparently did
little injury, for the snake assumed i
most determined attitude of attack on the
soldier. Il was evidently the serpents
plan Of tactics 10 envelOp the Sergeant
in its powerful coils and crush him.
Realizing the danger confronting him,
and quick as a fash, the Sergeant again
landed with heavy swinging blow on
the boa's back, and il was the effect OF
this telling stroke that probably saved
his life. The reptile dropped 10 the
ground, when the two regulars who had
reached the spot as the Sergeant struck
IL the second time, attempted TO pin 1t
20 the ground with their long sticks. This
was To easy task. as the boa, although
apparently badly wounded near the head
used its tail with wonderful deXterity
and whacked the soldiers severely on the
legs, Finally It's head was pinned fairly
down by the aid OF a fOrked stick hastily
procured. when SergJ. King slashed its
neck with his weapon OF steel, and thus
-nded the battle. In is death agony the
serpents cOnvulsive movements We're ter
rible 10 behold. Brush and underground
around the tree were completely leveled
a. ii rolled over and over, while its tail
slashed in all directions and fairly moved
the dense foliage.
TooE> Trophy Int" Camp
BY the aid OF Il stout rope secured TO
he sorpent's head Sergt. King dragged H.
sim squirmiHg. back 10 camp. On his
way, a. he neIred the little canvas houses
or the soldicTy. ne Was hailed on al sides
Ly express ions OF alarm and horror from
the lccry bllcCoats. as they viewed. at
very safe distances, the twisting prisoner
being dragged to the guard headquarters
81 Company d. Here II was inspected by
al Hlne. Capt. Hedges. and Lieuts-
shaw, Laubam, and Boiseau. as we'll as
bt tAD ul inr tcletN OF the guard
After "a very minute inspection the boa
was tied 10 a tree ana left until next day
when IL was given b. SergJ King 10 a
member OF the company. who skinned IT,
This operation consumed four hours. and
The whole skin was elegantly preserved
Through a process Of rubbing with bark
1nC salt. together with sun-drying.
The boa WAS about ten feet long. with
a tremendous body, but was hardly yet
fII-srOwn. its flesh was OF a delicate
pink color. It's spinal column was found
30 have been broken ~ two places. as i
result OF lis contact with the Sergeants
trusty weapon. but there were no " ounds
" any kind other than these fractures.
The skin was the object Of admiration
and envy by many Of the soldiers who
saw 1T. and every effort was made %
steal u from yhe one 10 whom IL belong
81. safe methods, however. We're en-
piSye1 10 conceal g. and q arrived in
Washington With the return OF the regi-
meHt Ras beautifully tanned. and there
ls at least one young lady in tEls city
WHO nov proudly wears a portion Of n
as a waist belt, handsomely embe Iished
rs.HA Tsaa A.