The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-03
D6090O000G00*6OG6G6G
DEATH IN IT'S STING


SS\W\O\O\0SU\
The devastated island of Martinique
has suffered Srom something beside
volcanic eruptions The stupendous
explosions have undoubtedly killed
tens of thousands of the deadly snakes
known as the fer de lance, or iron
lance in English but enough probably
remain to make the work of succor
one OF great peril. The negro labor
ers, who know the haunts of these SER
pents, decline to toll in the localities
where they were known to abound.
This is why many OF them refuse to
work for three or four times the or
binary pay to bury the dead at St.
Pierre, for they believe the snakes
have been driven to the coast by the
Volcanlc eruption Of Mount Pelee
Even In India there is nothing more
venomous than the crawling monster
OF Martinique and last year over 1000
persons succumbed to the virus in
Jected into them from the fangs of
this serpent. This is higher ratio
OF mortality from this source, popula-
tion considered, than anything India
can show.
The fer de lance is an Importation
from Trinidad. The reptiles were ta-
ken to Martinique to exterminate the
ugly tropical rats which made life mis-
cradle there. The snakes soon sue
ceeded in their mission. but the cure
proved as bad as the disease. Thou
sands Of persons We're fatally bitten
by the snakes until terror reigned
among those exposed to the crawling
fury. To overcome the reptiles a large
number OF secretary birds were
brought from South America and let
loose over the island The birds are
ravenous snake eaters and soon
rounded up the serpents and made hui
man life tolerably certain again.
When this had been accomplished.
Dsme fashion ordained that the rich
ly colored feathers of the birds should
De worn as an adornment to women's
neadSear. Under this decree the yul-
lures steadily disappeared before the
shotSnns Of the islanders until their
usefulness was destroyed. Then the
Ter de lance came forth from his hid
ing place and the mountains and re-
sumed his attacks upon human beings
Nhbii lSi1ollSLi pteNallS once more. !
The snake is apt to reach down from
the caves OF the house or shack and
Strike when least expected. The trop-
lcal vegetation. SO luxurious. is an aid |
to the cOncealment Of his Shiny pres
ence. and helps him in his attack |
upon man ana beast. In the lawn or |
park he is nesting in shady places and |
the wise avoid these resorts.
He attains a growth of seven feet |
and some have been known to length |
en- to twelve, His color is generally |
yellow, sometimes grayish, and again
brown. The head is large and re-
for a triangular space the
thin angles OF which are occupied by !
the muzzle and the eyes. 1t darts aft
eT it's prey with the speed of lightning
1t is game species. 1t never gets
out of the way of any obstacle. human
or otherwise. 1t fights till it dies,
neither asking nor giving quarter. 1t
will attack an OK or a horse as readily
as lizard or rat, upon which it
chiefly feeds, and it always comes off
victor. Its poison is deadly at some
seasons OF the gear more than at 9th
ers. Children have been bitten by
hem and have died in a few minutes,
setting in SO rapidly that
burial had to follow in two hours. The
sugar cane field is a favorite place for
he viper, The negroes working in
hem are often attacked and some
ines one snake viii! bite a dozen be-
ore it concludes to quit. Usually the
poison kills every one who is bitten
+. is a pitiable sight when negroes are
huS waylaid. Their screams for help
an be heard long way off and their
appeals touch the heart. Work for the
lay is stopped, as apart from the sor-
'eH for the stricken. safety urges that
hat part OF the field should be de-
'erted for some days afterward.
The snake is hunted with a shotgun
Any other weapon would be hazardous
o the man who attempted 7 to dispute
he passage Of the crawling monster
ia would have to get uncomfortably
sear to" use a pole or slung shot orr
look and would be apt to get the
worst of the affray. Long distance
warfare is safer. The snake has great
strength and when attacking an OK