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

/ "a 'iS ANIl III LUZ p4NSltSS, L ICluIICu
/ to the yard.
1t seemed probable that the python
| had crawled under some one of the
many cages. platforms or buildings.
, under several of which it could easily
have found refuge. III it had gone un-
der anything else than the big, spread
ing storehouse building, which was
! thirty-tive feet wide by one hundred
and thirty feet long, we might find it
| before it could escape into the forest.
If, however, it had hidden under that
extensive building, we were in a
quandary.
The men continued to look under
various things. likely and unlikely;
and presently they discovered Il broad
mark which seemed to be the trail of
the serpent leading under the cook
house. y close examination confirmed
this theory, and then it was also re
ported that no similar trail could be
found leading out. y carpenter was
hurriedly sent Tor TO remove the
boards from the floor.
Now many courageous men hare
such an inborn aversion TO snakes that
the touch OF n serpents body seems 10
create in them an entire new system
of nerves, and l wondered how my
men would act if we should really
encounter that creature with the beady
brown eyes, forked tongue. and teeth
all pointing inward-the wrong way
for an assailant. Up to that point
the search had gone on as quietly as
If we had been seeking lost piece of
rope.
Fortunately the floor boards of the
cook house were nine inches wide. and
in shor; time one of them was re-
moved. Down went four heads. and
all four came up again, very hastily:
There he isr'
Close beside the opening in the floor
lay about a bushel OF big brown and
yellow coils. and above the pile hoy
cred the massive head Of the python.
threatening 10 strike the first living
thing that came within reach. The
noise and jar of the carpenters efforts
IN removing the board had greatly ir-
ritated the reptile.
Mr.. Ditmar~, our curator Of REPTILES
had provided himself with n large bag
of heavy cloth. hoping to be able to
throw it moutht downward over the
COILS OF the scrpcnt-the USuGl way of
capturing snakes at large But there
was not sufficient space between the
floor and the serpent TO carry this plan
into effect; and moreo-er. the serpent's
mead was altogether too threatening.
PENDING further efforts, we procured
boards and endeayoIed to cut off the
pythoH's escape, front and rear.
The python waited until we had
placed the boards to the best possible
advantage, then uncoiled himself.
showed the boards out of position as
If they had been so many straws put
there for his amusement and quickly
disappeared under the ant-cater's cage.
The carpenter fell TO work again to
remove several other boards OF the
floor. while the messenger boys were
stationed outside the building TO sec
that our quarry did not get out and es-
cape TO the forest.
In short time the python's head
again appeared at one OF the long.
narrow openings made by tile carDeu-
ter, but as Mr.. Dtmars took favor
aulc position for grabbing the crca-
ture 10y The mock, clio, mp to the jaws
ID struck at him most vicjouslv.
Look out" c.Icd some one. en-
phauc0ly
Clearly, it would not do for any OF
our men TO be seized by that savage
creature; for although the python was
OF course not poisonous. and although
we might even prevent it. from wrap
% HrrH