The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-24
MAN CRUSHING SNAKE.
Great Python Keeps Crew of Afridi in
Terror.


New York, Nov. 24.-For two hours a
great python had full possession of the
steamship Afridi. which arrived here
from Singapore with a rare collection
of animals for the geological gardens in
The Bronx. The beast, which was "a
feet long, active and ferocious, drove the
terrified crew into hiding then mounted
the bridge, which it held against all
efforts of the captain and mate to dis
lodge it. Finally. after ma king an ugly
fight it was chopped to pieces with an
Capt. Golding of the Afridi is an en-
thusiastic collector Of animals. and when
the steamship left Singapore he had on
board many rare specimens, including
the python The services of ten men
We're needed to get it on board and
this was done only after it had been
bound tightly.
The first night out was extremely
dark and still. which was a fortunate
ship was practically left to her own
management after the python broke
loose. The first Capt Golding knew of
the affair was when he heard a great
uproar from the animals. Bears growIed
and tigers roared, while the monkeys
screamed with fright. When the cap
tain went to investigate he found the
python'S cage was empty
Knowing its i'll temper and feeling de-
cidedly uncomfortable at the thought
of a "a foot man crusher Drowling
around in the darkness. the captain and
mate got lanterns and started on a eau
tious snake hunt, each confessing to
cold chills chasing up and down hi..
back.
Suddenly there came a yell of terror
from the bridge, and the officer in charge
there leaped over the railing to the main
deck and darted below. white with fear
The python was climbing the ladder to
the bridge, and had showed it's ugly head
almost into his face. The Chinese cook
with large dish of rice in his hands,
then caught sight Of the brute, and he
let out a yell, dropped the dish and fell
down the companionway in a terrified
heap. Members &C the crew ran to the
place, then kept on running, piling upon
each other as they uunbled below, pull
ing the ecrecastle hatch after them.
That left only the captain and the
mate to fight the python. which had
coiled itself on the bridge and was
swaying its head and long neck from
side to side The mate would not essay
close quarters. but held the hull's-eye
lantern so that its light shone full on
the spectacular fight that followed.
Though the captain. acknowledges he
must have been gray with horror at
sight of the snakes greenish eyes re-
fleeing the light from the lantern. he
felt he must kill the beast or run some
risk with his steamship. as the crew
positively refused to come on deck while
the means of the oaralyzed cook show
ed he was hopeless.
Cautiously climbing the ladder, the
captain tried to throw rope around the
SNAKE, which was as quick as flash
in evading it Twice the CAPTAIN was
forced to sudden retreat. followed by the
scampering rr-te. Then he got a long
handled broadax and slowly approached
the snake while the mate tried to blind
it by throwing the lantern rays full in
its eyes. After much manoeuverng the
ulucky seaman got sweeping whack It
the snake, cutting it completely in two
about the middle Then he had two
snakes to fight instead of one. the tail
part threshing about wildly while the