Arizona republican., 1902-06-01
THE DEADLY
FER-DE~LANCE

Former residents of Martinique say
that the perils of any expedition max
ing exploration or bringing succor TO
the country about St. Pierre will be
doubtless sraveiy increased by ti.e
Cor some years on the island:
This serpent. which is the curse Cf
the islands. is said to be the deadiiast
of snakes outside of India and the in
h2bitarts OF the regions infested by il
say that not even the terrible hooded
cobra inhicts death more swiftly or
surely. Says one gentleman who lived
for some years OF the island.
Unless all the fer-de-lance in the
region of St. Pierre We're destroyed by
the eruption there is likely to be a
considerable mortality from snake bites
for the next few weeks. The Gulcnes
around the city fairly swarm with the
Venomous reptiles. 1t is principally
because of their presence that ascents
of Mount Pelee. otherwise not partir
ulaTly difficult Or hazardous, have bean
SO infrequent.
so far as we now know the water
courses OF tie locality have been
choked. The viDers all require moist
ure. and the fer-tfe-lance is very par
tial to water. Undoubtedly then, there
has been an exodus from the slopes and
gullies down to the water front.
1T is a curious fact that in cases of
seismic disturbance snakes make Ter
the lowlands. I have heard that when
Mont Pelee vas disturbed il the middle
CT the last century the fey Glance
overran the streets of the town. al
though they are naturally d grassland
snake, and q number of people We're
killed BY them.
Suppose. now. that the shore beyond
the district where all life has been
blotted ont has become the refuge Of
these creatures. What viii happen to
the men who land there. particularly
il they are ignorant. of the danger?
1t is not pleasant to think OF. The fer
| defiance does not wait 10 be attacked.
RE IS Il born murderer. When he has
once set his venomous mind on man
he viii follow until one or the other is
slain. Add to this natural leaning tie
| fear and fury of the snakes at being
driven forth from their own places and
I think one can appreciate that their
presence will not be the least of the
| dangers following the catastrophe"
The history of the fer-de-lance in his
! island OF Martinique is a peculiar enc
It is said that originally this island
was entirely free from poisonous
( snakes. rs CUBA is now. Il was, now
! cvc~, overrun with = particularly ac-
| tive and v0racious species of ra IS
/ Some enterprising inhabitant l!earjn2
that the fer lance was extremely
rough on rats, sent TO Trinidad, an(d
had scme imported. The visitors dis
their work. IN q few years il was s.lii
in Martinique that the only surVivir:
rats were those that had learned Is
Climb trees and turned into ayine
squirrels. However that nlay be tn.
community soon found itself confront
cd by the Massac husetts cutworn ant
English sparrow proposition. but in
far more serious form, the remedia
agents proved 10 be worse than t.,
original pest. 50 many persons Wer,
bitten that work in the fields came t.
a standstill. Road making ceased.
was said that no bitten person rccoV
cred except in the case OF WoOCchop
pers. Having their axes handy The,
wo;:ld. if the bite were on the arm c
leg. chop off the member instantly al.
thus save their lives. It became
sort Of caste mark toy the WooGm2i
| u nave tillN Iii &C cut VI HIS iOt'
original limbs.
Then the French government got II
statistics and discovered that in pro
portion to the populat ton the deaf
rate from snake bite was the highes
il the world. y bounty was offered
Bands of snake hunters went forth !
hunt. Some few of them came back.
Al this time there W&s living in 81
Pierre :. former South African. u
had seen the great saaIle-eating .secre
tarY bird Of that continent. and at
very considerable expense had severe
pairs CT the birds sent to him. Hi
. ncignbors said he was crazy. The
: prophcsied that the quickest Witted q
the birds would he flying swiftly eourf
west fifteen seconds after they ma
!; first seen Il fer-de-lGnce. The sccra
tary birds were turned loose in the IL
tested districts. Withil q month the