The sun., 1918-07-16
'POLICEMAN'SPE
SNAKE SCARES EN-
NeighbOrs Shrek in Terror as
Reptile Crawls Down
Fire Escape.
WOW! HOW THEY YELL.
Leo, the Merry, LassOes
Stranger, Which Narrowly
Escapes Internment.

woman's scream Of horror shat
tered the usual domestic Monday morn
ing quiet Of the yards back Of the 1--WE
story apartment house in 1ee West 120th
street. The heads which were poked
out OF neighborin. windows were in
time to hear the fourth floor fire escape
window close with a slam.
Almost Immediately another piercing
scream drew every eye to the third
floor window in the house and It too
was banged down. and then those who
were looking out OF the rear windows
OF the houses which front on 18th street
saw the cause of the excitement.
big spotted brown snake was GID
ing leisurely down the fire escape ladder
of the 120th street building. In the
first blush OF the discovery the reptile
was estimated and shouted to be ten
and even fifteen feet long and while
there were those at a safe distance who
were inclined to discuss Its species. those
who were near by were perfectly salts
fed to know that 1t was a snake.
Leo Landau Undaunted.
Leo Landau. who Is not excitable by
nature. especially SO on Monday when
tho family wash is hung out to dry
and lines do got entangled. finally stuck
his head out OF the second floor window
of the l20th street house just in time
to meet Sir Sinuous on his slitherins
way to the inviting bit OF green in the
back yard.
What Leo thought cannot be recorded
and OF course what the snake thought
will remain unknown. but Landau. who
Is not exc!table by nature, turned back
into his room. secured a rope, and
destly fashioning a lasso swung the
moose over the snakes head and Tipped
It tight
Naturally the snake objected. and for
a time It was just as some one-from a
safe distance-shouted Now you've got
MIN. what are you going to do with
him."
But Landau was patient and persua-
sive and finally coaxed his captive 20
unwind from about the iron ladder be-
tween the second and third floors and
lowered the snake to tho back yard.
Advice showered down about him
more rapidly than the water from
freshly washed clothing and household
linen, but Landau had resolved upon his
course OF action and soon had his prize
safely cooped In a discarded bread box,
Then he telephoned to the Bronx Zoo
and arranged for a man to come down
from that park. where this reptile Spa OF
New York is located, and secure a new
boarder.
Saves His Little Pet.
Fut just about this time Policeman
Harry Newshafer OF the West Tooth
street police station walked into the hall
of the apartment on his way to his
flat on the top floor. The excitement
had not subsidized and he was soon told
Of IT,
"Why. that's my pet snake" ne ex-
planned. HE wouldn't hurt anybody.
Why. ne plays with my three children
alcng with our dog and the parrot.
He'll not go up to the Zoo II I can
help it"
And when the case had been explained
to Landau the cause OF ali Of the eX-
element was taken home TO his box in
the Newshafer home. where the three
pets of TIE family live In perfect har-
mony. Newshafer explained that the
snake must have become restless and
got out on the fire escape through an
opeE window.
The official length OF the snake is
four feet