Evening star., 1916-10-31
SURE He FEELS SNAKE,
RISES WITH ALACR|Ty
Story of How One District Guards
man Caused Another to Have
Bad Dreams.
spcci.l Corr-spondenee of The star.

Special Correspondence of The Star
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL
GUARD CAMP. Camp Wilson. San An
tonic. Tex, October 2s-Supply Sergt.
Birmingham has publicly announced to
the men of the troop that if TOP"
Sergt Ray ever again tells him snake
stories just before he goes to bed
there's going to be trouble in camp.
This he has done as the result of an
inciqent which happened last night In
the pup tent" which the two sergeants
are sharing on the trip.
Both men were tired out AS the re-
suit of their twenty-two-mile ride, and
not long after supper was served they
hit the hay" II, was literal in their
long after they had gone into camp
they had gathered together enough hay
to insure a comfortable bed for the
night.
Ray Tells Snake Stories.
Birmingham remarked that he hoped
no snakes would take advantage of the
warm bed they had made. and this nat
u, ally turned the conversation to the
subject of snakes. Sergt. Ray was
right at hcme in this respect. for he
formerly lived in San Antonio and is
familiar with the various kinds OF
spakes to be found in this locality. He
p. oceeded to tell Brittingham some
snake stories that would do credit to a
ceeuinS story the snakes became larger
and more ferocious. By the time sleep
finally overeame the two tired soldiers
Rays snakes had reached the sea SER
pent class.
Sergt Birmingham dreamed about
snakes all night. He thrashed about
on his bunk in an EFFORT to get away
ficr, the siai.es he vas seeing in his
d,eaT,s Before long he had kicked
of his blankets. His 20. D." shirt came
open at the neck The snakes contin-
ued to chase him. and Brittingham con-
tinucd to thrash about The sergeant
metal Identification tag, which army
regulations require every soldier to
carry on a tape around his neck, De :
came exposed to the cold night air. II
fen to one side and soon had lost its
body warmth.
Sure It Was Reptile. ?.
The sergeant twisted on his bed and
brought the then cold metal disc into
contact with his neck again. BrittinS-
ham woke up with start. Surely a
snake was crawling across him. He
dared not move for fear of the conse-
quences. The cold object was still
touching his neck. No doubt the snake
place to coil up in. II he called to
Ray the reptile would become aroused
ard the troop would lose a perfectly
good supply sergeant There was only
one thing to do-make a jump before
the snake crawled in any closer.
Brittingham did 50 and at the same
time he let out yell. He forgot he
was sleeping in a shelter tent. that IL
only about three feet high and at
tempted TO straighten himself up. He
came near carrying the tent and all
along with him. He tripped over the
guy rope and went sprawling. The
cold object came into contact with his
neck again He grabbed for 1t and
awohe to his senses. 1t wasn't snake
after all
Then Birmingham began to say
things. Sergt. Ray, who had become
awakened by all the. commotion. is the
authority for the statement that what
his comrade In arms said would not
look good in print. Brittingham blamed
ever eiything on Ray. He had no busi-
ness to tell such terrible snake stories.
he said.