Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-29
FOUGHT GIANT PYTHON.
Hair-Ralsins Yarn Spun BY Doughty
Skipper Of the Afridi.

The British steamship AfFfdi arrived from
eastern ports with large collection Of rare
animals for the Bronx. geological park. It
brought also choice snake story, belonging TO
Captain Golding, the hero OF which was a
python twenty-four feet long and wicked in
proportion.
The snake one night got out OF his cage,
climbed the companion ladder to the bridge,
and took command OF the vessel. Men and
and matches Immediately new shut Captain
Golding, armed with broadax, and the mate
with bulfs-eye lantern, finally subdued the
python after two-hour battle. and his re-
mains. In wriggling sections from two to four
feet long, were left scattered around the deck.
The python was notoriously Vicious" said
Captain Golding, land II took ten men at
Singapore to transfer II from the cage the
dock 10 the one which had been built for II
dark and still. About 10 o'clock a ter
rife noise broke out among the animals on
deck. and the officer Of the watch, who hurried
over to see what the trouble was. got sight
Of the python's big ugly head and glittering
eyes just over the top rung Of the starboard
companion ladder leading 70 the bridge. He
darted down the port ladder and yelled out
70 the crew, who tumbied below. The Chinese
cook was carrying bowl OF rice forward.
but when he caught glimpse Of the python
working himself up the ladder he dropped
everything. ran for the galley and locked
himself in.
III tried to get the blight OF a rope around
him, but the python cooled himself alike a big
spring, and gave it up. The only man who
had nerve enough TO stay on deck was the
the light IN the snakes eyes. while got a
broadax and spared for opening. 1t was
half an hour before got chance, but then
l cut him clean through the middle
That only the beginning OF my trou-
Bile, for each section was about twice as lively
as the whole snake had been before. 1 finally
got in blow about three feet from the head,
and that finished the part that was giving me
the most trouble. Altogether when 1 got
through, there were twelve sections lying
The Afridi makes about three trips year
to this port, and ever since Captain Golding
sation at the geological park two years ago the
steamship has always brought a lot of valu-
able animals. Among those which arrived yes
terday were three crowned pigeons, a Java
peacock, anoa, tapir, a slender loris,
and a little white fox-like animal, whose
species is a stranger to Mr.. Hornaday. The
python not the only one Of the lot which
had story attached.
A fine ourang -outang died on the trip. He
the finest specimen l ever saw" said
the captain. He was four feet six inches
tall, had hair eleven inches long, and beard
Of five inches As near as we could judge he
grief he would have been the finest specimen
In captivity
list OF the rare animals FOR which Mr.. Horn
aday Is on the lookout When the captain told
Mr.. Hornaday yesterday that he had picked
up a Manchurian leopard he insisted upon see
ing 1t at once.
TT isn't exactly a snow leopard said
the captain, but it's nne specimen" He
opened the door of the cage and put his hand
in the leopard's mouth. Peter is a graceful
cream white creature, and apparently as tame
a q kitten.
when I was in Singapore continued the
captain, II heard that there was a white
leopard travelling inward with circus owned
by a man named Brukasi When came up
with the circus Il found the animal had been
sold 70 a man in Singapore, and before l got
back this man had sold him to Chinaman
named Ching chong He wanted big price,
but l finally got the leopard in exchange for
q tiger which the Chinaman wanted TO look
after some gardens. I learned later that the
circus man had bought Peter from German
sausage maker in Shanghai. Peter knows a
whole lot of tricks and IL quite tame"