The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-07-16
Cape Girardeauan Army Off
Ger at Louisiana Encamp-
ment, Called Hero.
SOLDIERS SEE A BIG
REPTILE GRAB HIM
Lawmaker Flips Reptiles Head
OFF When it Bites His
Hand.

ardeau COuntyS lone statesman, who
is attending the encampment of the
Missouri National Guards at Louis
lana, Mo-, was bitten by large black
snake yesterday afternoon, while at
tempting to charm it.
The bite was treated by the COM
pany physician, and was pronounced
not serious, except that it will prevent
Capt Bridges taking an active inter
est in the work of the Missouri SOL
diers.
The National Guards camping
grounds, according TO a dispatch to
The Tribune, is right in the heart of
a snake settlement. Reptiles from the
Mississippi River have been driven
back some distance from the banks by
the high water, and they have mar
red the work of the soldiers.
Three soldiers from St. Louis were
nipped by non-poisonous snakes, but it
produced an anti-snake sentiment in
the camp, and some of the men were
considering the advisability of desert
ing. Capt. Bridges discouraged such
thoughts Dy relating some of his ex-
periences with reptiles while on fishing
trips in the swamps.
"Why, l don't fear them as much as
7 do bunohIahaac cold tho Contain
"The next snake you fellows see, show
him to me and l will demonstrate what
the folks down my way do with rep
tiles"
An hour later about two-thirds of
one company swooped down on Capt.
Bridges, bearing the message that a
real snake had been seen stalking
about in the grass within few PAGES
of the mess room.
Good! Comrades" shouted the Cap
tain. Salute your superior and come
with me. When l give the command
to halt, stop in your tracks and take
heed. But be on your guard to give
pursuit in the event that the enemy
attempts to break through our lines.
With those few remaks Capt. Bridg-
es approached the spot where a large
snake had been reported to have as
sumed a hostile attitude. Balancing
himself on one foot and then the
other, the Cape Girardeauan brushed
the tall weeds aside with his liberated
limb in order that he might see the
reptile as quickly as the snake could
cast its beamers upon him.
He halted suddenly and beckoned to
his men. otis he, beware" the Cap
tain shouted and one-half of his COM
pany attempted to back-pedal, but he
discovered their plans and ordered the
men to charge. The soldiers came to
a complete stand in a circle around the
snake. The reptile, four feet long, was
coiled in the shade of a small buck
brush.
"My fellow countrymen execute rep
tiles of this variety without the use
of guns or clubs" said Capt. Bridges.
81 shall tickle this boy under the chin
until he loses his temper and then /
shall thump his head off with my mid
die finger"
The uniformed men stood aghast.
No one spoke above a whisper, and a
dead silence swept over the gathering
as Capt. Bridges leaned over and look
ed the reptile squarely in the face.
Here's where we lose an officer"
said private as he gasped for breath.
"Wow" howled the Cape Girardea-
an, "this pesky critter is nibbling on
my trigger hand. Send for the ambu-
lance"
A Gordon of uniformed men moved
back as if they detected the odor of
asphyxiating gas.
"Be not afraid, shall make him pay
dearly for this" the officer shouted
encouragingly to his men. But in spite
of his display of bravery, some of the
soldiers rushed out of the weeds to
watch the ambulance approach.
Capt. Bridges, with all the courage
of Daniel in the lions den, reached
over with his left hand and seized the
snake by the tail. Then he pulled the
snake from his right hand. With the
sleeve of his flannel shirt stained
crimson, he swung the reptile about
his head and snapped it as cowboy
| would cattle whip.
The snake was dead. It's head has
been popped" off. The Cape Girar-
deau officer emerged from the weeds
a hero. Theodore Roosevelt's march
up San Juan did not leave a more
favorable impression on his men than
Capt. Bridges act did upon the guards.