The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-09-25
4 BATTLE WITH A PYTHON.
Two Cyclists Have Life and Death
Struggle with Reptile.

Snake stories. like fish stories, are
sometimes favored with certain
amount OF imagination. The follow
ing strange and stirring adventure
with q python. however, is absolutely
vouched for, says Wide World Mag
azine.
To anyone who is familiar with
Rhodesia, where the incident occur
red. it is common knowledge that
the boundless tracts of veldt, alter
mated with wooded patches and rug
ged kopjes, afford excellent breeding
grounds for the python, the ever
dangerous puff-adder, the treacher-
Gus boom-slang and several other
varieties of snakes.
During the winter of 1872 (about
]ulv) two friends of a Mr.. Morgan
had occasion to visit him at his farm,
called Bitton. The homestead is sit
uated about 80 miles from the town
ship OF Salisbury, the capital of the
country, and in the Lomagundi dis
trict. The gentlemen referred to lad
cycled to Morgan's homestead, and
we're accompanied by a very active
and pugnacious Scotch terrier dog,
the property of one Of the men. Al
ter transacting their business with
Mr.. Morgan they mounted their cy-
cles and started slowly on their re-
turn journey along an improvised
road or track which led to the home
stead. After covering distance of
500 or 600 yards they were sur
rounded by bush land, or veldt,
which is generally covered with long,
coarse. stalky grass eight or ten feet
in height The terrier had run on
some distance in front of the cyclists,
and was seen to enter the grass
which adjoined the track. 1t was
then heard to bark furiously. On
reaching a point opposite the dogs
location it's owner dismounted with
the view Of ascertaining the cause
of it's persistent barking His friend
also dismounted on the track, and
remained there, awaiting results,
while the owner of the dog passed
on into the grass After going few
yards he observed large python in
close proximity to and facing his dog.
The python took one look at the new
intruder; then, with lightning rapid
ity, it advanced upon the dog and
wound itself round its body, at the
same time biting it on the shoulder.
The howls of the dog were heart
rending, and its owner, in deepest
despair, hurriedly ran forward and
planted his foot on that part of the
snake Immediately behind it's head.
At the same time he loudly shouted
tc his friend, Come in - quick"
The call was observed at once; it
also attracted the attention of
native boy" who was at hand, max
ing his way to Morgan's homestead.
The curiosity of the "boy' was of
course, aroused, and he in turn hur-
riedly entered the bush. On the ap-
proach of Cyclist No. 2 the python
released it's hold of the dog and
promptly coiled it's body around one
of the legs of the gentleman, who,
struggling and only with the great
est difficulty, kept his foot on the
monsters neck. The extraordinary
strength which was now exerted by
the snake caused intense pain to
the man who was thus entangled.
By good luck, however, he was wear
ing stout leather leggins, which, to
certain extent, protected him.
The snakes crushing grip grew
tighter and tighter, and in his suffer-
ing he called upon his friend to
seize the reptile by the tail, while at
the same time he cast watchful eyes
en- the head of the snake The snake
bound captive next ordered the
'boy"-who stood gazing in amaze
ment at respectful distance-to run
quickly to Mr.. Morgan's homestead
and bring. a gun and cartridges.
Natives, Of course, are not allowed
to carry firearms in Rhodesia, but in
unusual circumstances, such as those
described, exceptions must be toler-
ated. At all events, the boy was
only too glad to undertake the order,
and rushed off toward the homestead.
Meanwhile, the eyelist, who still
though with the utmost difficulty
maintained his footing on the snakes
neck, found that by the strenuous
efforts of his friend in holding the
snakes tail, the pain in his leg was
less acute. Nevertheless, the
minutes dragged horribly, and all the
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