The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-10
Cobras Couldn't Get Out.

Cobras Couldn't Get Out.
HE uttered a yell and literally tumbled
down stairs. banging the door behind him.
Then he trembed and fused. at loss what
to do until 1t occurred to him to telephone
to me for help.
II went down to the place with stick and
a bag accompanied by a keeper and found
tine upper floor barricaded and everybody
about the place with nerves the jump.
One thing in our favor, the windows
we're screened with fine meshed WIRE so the
cobras couldn't get out that way, and we
knew they were somewhere in the loft.
THE keeper and 1 went up with our
sticks and bags. Each stick was provided
with moose that we hoped to get around
the reptiles necks and thus save them alive.
The animal dealer accompanied us to the
door but couldn't be persuaded to go any
further. so the man and / went In and
closed the door behind us. Next minute I
heard the key turn in the lock- What are
you doing? yelled. Unlock that door. 1t
may be Wen have to run for it, All right
said the dealer, III unlock it, and thought
he did so. but I hadn't any time to find out
for instantly the serpents were reared up
in the striking pose. They almost touched
the roof, and what they wanted to strike
was us!
II told the keeper to reach the moose,
which was made of heavy copper wire, over
5he swaying head of one and pull it down.
while did the same to its mate But the
snakes didn't permit us to do that little
trick easily They darted forward and back
disappeared until we didn't know where t,
look for them and as we were looking in
one place appeared again in a dark corner.
II was q fight to the DEATH or seemed so,
and we were sweating freely from our rapid
cxercise-more like a fantastic dance than
anything can lken 1t to. The cobras went
r.. oxNA aS.h
partner kept his eyes fastened relentlesslv
on the enemy.
Saved by Slippery Board.
"On they came at last in what was meant
to be q last dash, and back We went as far as
the space would permit. whirling the sticks
before those perfectly poised deadly heads.
Candlesticks, did / call 'em? They looked to
me by this time like death heads. The two
came on together and that made it more
dangerous.
Il think one thing only saved that
day. The floor was covered with loose
boards and, as l afterward found they
were slippery. AS the cobras sailed across
to get us, they faltered, feared to lose their
pose--the deadly striking pose, and drew
back.
THAT was our time to rush in and get
the nooses over their heads. succeeded, but
the keeper failed. The cobra disappeared and
the keeper got to his feet with grunt for
he had fallen headlong. On came his cobra
again, for these reptiles will never give up in
fight, and this time he got the moose
over IT,
"Get on him and hold him DOWN.
yelled while trying TO perform this feat to the
wrigglng mass in front of me. AT length ]
did get my feet planted on the cobra's neck
and l reached out for the bag; 1t wasn't
difficult to wriggle It into the bag. and after
had tied IL with rope l could go to the
other fellows assistance.
I'VE had both serpents safe, when there
came a frightened voice from the other side
Of the door demanding to know II we were
still alive.
"Yes. we are. but no thanks to YOU