Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-21
Their Dizzy Mid-Sea
Dilemma
By A. H. MoRINo


uhOSt WlnuleSS uHy III MHTNH lllu'
the second-class battleshlp Oklahoma
came upon the gunboat Seattle steer
ing wildly about In mld-ocean, with n
weird tale of woe hutterlng from her
signal halyards, "Snake loose. HelpW
was the startling message of the flags
AS If to emphasize the urgency Of the
need, this appeal was supplemented
by no less than five inverted ensigns
stuck all over the rigging,
The captain of the Oklahoma was
nonplussed. What sort Of help could
he offer In case OF this kind2 Never
theless, Il boat was lowered and n crew
of jackies were sent over to lnvesti-
gate and also to render what assist
ance they could
When Mr.. Hennessy. the lieutenant
in charge, boarded the distressed gun
boat he was more puzzled than ever.
What seemed to be the entire crew
was gathered In little groups on the
deck, all staring at huge snake--a
python-which was calmly basl!ing In
the warm sunlight on cleared part
Of the deck. Captain Simmons, who
commanded the gunboat, received the
lieutenant with evident relief, and
quickly made him acquainted with the
curious situation In which they were
placed.
II seemed that the Seattle, on her
way from Montevldeo to New York,
had taken on board live specimen
Of rare species Of boa or python,
found only In the valley of the Rio de
la Plata. 1t had been captured for
the New York zoo, but before finding
q permanent home In the snake house
there 1t was going for short stay at
the Smithsonian Institution.
THE python, believe, is not poi
sonous snake" remarked Lieutenant
Hennessy IF enough of you pile on
you can easily secure It and put It
back into Its cage without any danger.
| don't see that you need any help
from u.s."
The captain smiled mlrthless, sick
ly smile. "You don't know what you're
talking about" he said. "Y0u haven't
heard the whole story yet. We can't
handle II roughly. Why, mani That
snake is a regular minel It's full Of
dynamitew
Dynamite exclaimed the lieu
tenant. "Why, where could 1t get
dynamitef"
ut was some we we're using to kill
sharks" explained the captain. I'VE
attached the dynamite to wire con-
nected with an electric battery, baited
1t with a piece Of salt pork"
~ see," said the lieutenant $50
the snake swallowed some Of the dyna-
mite, en-" He eyed the basking reptile
thoughtfully. What was to be done2
Though still young man, he was not
without many years OF experience at
sea. On board the Oklahoma he was
looked up to by all as man OF much
ingenuity and many expedlents, yet
here was a nut that seemed to be too
hard for him to crack.
"Have you tried to chloroform it2"
he asked suddenly. A wild hope
dawned for moment In the captains
eye and as quickly died out again; he
shook his head mournfully. NO" he
said, "but 1t won't let us get near
enough to try IT, We thought of shov-
ing It gently onto a piece Of sallcloth
and then pulling the whole business
overheard, but as soon as any Of US
came near II began to slam around on
the deck" He shuddered at the
thought Of what might have happened.
BESIDES, I don't think we have any
chlorOform."
Anyway, Il might have hit on the
side of the ship and exploded" com
mented the lieutenant THAT would
have been just as bad MS on deck. I've
an Idea, though n you could find out
where the snakes stomach Is loo"
But he never to!, his plan, whatever
II was. Something happened Just then
that held him and everybody else spell
bound with excitement. The big snake
lelsurely uncoiled Itself and glded TO
the side rnllfg. Everyone held his
breath as II crawled down the rope
ladder and l. a,lad In the bottom Of tho
Oklahoma's boat with little thump
that sent every mans heart Into his
mouth. Captain Simmons wiped the
perspiratlon from his brow and looked
nj the lieutenant. The lieutenant
looked at the captain. TITS our boat"
he said uncnsily. but the captain gave
no heed. He had walked over to the
side where the snake had Just dis
appeared, and as he leaned on the
railing he sawed with his pocketknlfe
at the rope holding the boat fast, till
It parted. As the little dancing cookie
shell foated of with its dangerous
passenger, unanimous sigh OF relief
rose InvoluntarlIy from the crew Of
the Seattle.
But the lieutenant did not look very
happy. He was still more perturbed
when Captain Simmons suddenly dis
appeared into his cabin and emerged
with q rifle, into which he was smi.
lngly slipping shell. Cant be
helped" he replied to the remonstrat-
ing lieutenant. MS he carefully aimed
at the now distant boat. "The navy
regulations direct Us TO destroy all
floating mines and other things likely
to prove menace to navigation" He
pulled the trigger, and miniature wa
ter spout Off In the distance greatly
mystlned the watching officers Of the
Oklahoma.
~ wonder why II ls." said Fanny
Richards to her cousin as they were
returning from their trip to the Brook
Ign navy yard. "thnt the Oklahoma
has one boat marked Seattle. Is that
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