Year: 1867

thrilling account of the chase and capture of boa


Last evening about sundown, while two gentle
men, boarding at No. AS Gravier street, corner OF
St. Charles, were conversing with Mr.. Irwin, the
servant boy about IL years old, who had been sent
up stairs to close the windows, came rushing down
stairs, saying: I'm room number l, on the fourth
floor, is the largest snake I ever saw" In an in
slant, Messrs. Irwin, Grant and Beverly Kennon
reached the new haunt of the stranger, where they
found snake ten feet long and twelve inches in
circumference, probably more, coiled partly on the
window sill close by, his head elevated fully two
feet above his body. One Of the gentlemen would
have killed him with revolver which he had
brought from his room for the purpose, but he did
not fire, however, as it would have endangered the
lives of foot passengers on St Charles street.
Moreover, one of the gentlemen present knowing
the snake to be of the boa Species proposed catch


ing him alive which was done after much patience
and perseverance. They tried for fully an hour to
catch him in No. l, but without success. Until
he was troubled he was perfectly quiet, but on the
gentleman approaching within few feet Of him,
he crawled up the window blind lit having per-
fecty smooth surface with the intention of getting
behind the canvass which formed the ceiling of the
room. A slight tap with stick brought him down
again. His keeper now arrived and attempted to
catch him under blanket His many attempts
caused the snake to become very angry, and he
now repeatedly struck at whatever was presented
to him. Finding his captors were getting the bet
ter of him he dropped down to the arch over the
window below (room No. l4), from whence he was
showed off on to clothes line stretched over the
top of the balcony below. Some difficulty was ex-
perienced in getting the key to the room, where he
was expected to be found. When the door was
opened and candle procured-for it was nearly
dark-the snakes head was in the window. He
evidently intended turning in in room not so
near the top of the house. Another man from the
museum arrived, bringing blanket with him
but the snake was now very much excited and 80
quick in his motions that the blanket was given up


and rope substituted in its place. The party re-
peatedly got the rope round his neck, but as soon
as he felt it he jerked his head out of the moose
quick as thought. He was resting on the out rig
ger of the clothes line, and it was impossible to
manage him as he was partly in his coil. Soon,
however, he stretched himself nearly his full length
on the line, when running bow-lne was dropped
over his head. rs soon as he felt its weight, he
pulled back, which only tended to tighten the
more He soon discovered that he was caught, his
tail being wound round the line was now removed,
and he offered no resistance fact, he could not
as he was choked nearly to death, and like good
fellow accepted the situation. Hiskeeper soon af.
ter returned him to his old quarters, which he left
four weeks ago. So far from showing adisposition
to fight, his chief aim seemed to be to get away
from the captors. He only showed fight when
worried to get him to keep his head in motion and
clear Of his body, so as to put the bowlne around
his neck The bite of the boa is not dangerous,
but his strength lies in the crushing force which he
applies to his antagonist This one can and does
easily take full grown pigeon at mouthful He
takes but one, and once month only. They must
kill their own game. His snakesbip is now safely
quartered in the museum whence it is to be hoped
he will not soon emerge. Nh. Irwin would make
money by having all his boarders with such light
appetites. The above were fully one hour and
half in securing his satanic majesty he was con-
sidered of too much value to his owner to allow Of
his being killed, when with patience and care he
could be captured unharmed. .....