The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-07-23

VI Iie Chlcl lOTeSter ana mVSelt TO
retain any portion of it within our
grasp. We brGred ourselves, heaved
hard. an, by main strength tried to
pull the python out backward; but not
one inch could we gain. On the con
trary. inches We're drawn away from
us in spite of all we could do. I be-
lieNe that ten men could not have
pulled that python out backward. al
though they night possibly have torn
it in two.
All this time Mr. Ditmars kept trying
TO seize the python by the neck, but it
was constantly alert, anxious to seize
him, and gave him no opportunity
whatever 1t was evident that with
our unaidcd hands we never could
master that savage creature without
an accident to some one.
Bidding a keeper take my place at
the tail hold' and hang on with all
his strength 1 ran to the storeroom.
ana with two yards OF masons line,
long. thin hammer-handle OF hickory
ana staple hurriedly driven into the
end of it for the line to pass through,
l quickly made very serviceable
moose Back l ran TO the cook house.
Mr.. Merkel and Mr.. Munzie. red in
the face and perspiring profusely.
We're cl!nging desperately to the last
two feet OF the python's tail; and the
python was in perfect rage. 1t dart
ed to and fro under the half-demol-
ished floor, striking out viciously
whenever il seemed possible to reach
man, and manifesting great willing
ness to fight any one. At the same
time, however, it most cunninCly kept
its head under cover.
l readjusted the loop Of my line at
the end OF my stick and put it close
to the python's head, expecting the
snake to make n strike through the
moose. He refused. l waited PATENT
ly. Inch 10y inch the tail was going
under the floor.
We can't hold on here much long
err exclaimed the forester, desperate
ly.
At last the python started to move
straight toward my face. As shifted
my moose into line, he ran his head
through ii. the moose flew taut behind
his jaws. and lie was caught.
The instant l jcrlcd the line taut
the python drew back and cndeavored
to retreat, pulling with the strength
Of a man. l gave him about Il yard
OF my line and then held him by main
strength.
That small line will cut his head
off,. cried Mr. Dimars, in real alarm
for the safety of our prize snake.
Better let me cut it." He whipped out
his knife and poised the open blade
over my precious bit of line.
mo, no! Don't cut it. We've got
to control his head this way or Wen
never master him without getting
hurt. Let 30 the tail and grab up the
body through that next opening"
This new move again brought up the
original six feet of body and tail
which that reptile had, by sheer
strength, pulled out of the grasp of
two strong young men. The snake
now moved forward once more and as
he came I pulled in my line through
the staple until presently 1 coaxcd and
pulled the head into an opening. hold
ing it quite safely at the end of my
stick. Instantly Mr.. Ditmars seized
the neck with both hands, and the
snake was our.
Dropping my line and stick I. too,
took hold close behind the head and
we began to walk away with our cap
two. As that magnificent and wonder
fully powerful body emerged from I'M
der the floor the other men laid hold
Of it at intervals and bore it along.
Keep it out straight boys. and don't
give him chance to set a coil around
any of us"
Truly, ii must have been an odd
looking procession that we made as
we marched across the yard with that
big snake and dumped it into its cage.
The hunt had lasted nearly an hour.
No one had been bitten and the snake
was quite unhurt
'Now, boys said I. Tets say moth
iEc about this little incident for the
present"
They did keep quiet and the unex-
pected happened Not one Of the
newspapers of New York heard q word
of the affair until fully three months
had elapsed and then the story was
so old that rs q sensation it was as
dead as Ramcses. and the ZOO cid not
suffer bit from reference to &C..
To-day that python occupies the sec
ond cage rrom the alligator pool and
is the handsomcst. although not the
largest, of our many constructors
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