Year: 1867




Last evening, at about sundown,
while two gentlemen, boarding at No.
145 Gravier street, corner of st. Charles,
were conversing on the balcony with
Mr.. Irwin, the proprietor, servant
boy, about twelve years old, who had
been sent up stairs to close the windows,
came rushing down stairs, saying; "In
room No. l, ON the fourth floor, is the
largest snake l ever saw" In an in
slant Messrs. Irwin, Grant and Beverly
Kennon reached the new haunt of the
stranger, where they found q snake
fully ten feet long and twelve inches in
circumference, probably more, coiled
partly on the bed-post and partly on the
window sill close by-his head elevated
fully two feet above the 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
catching him alive, which was done
after much patience and perseverance.


They tried for fully half an hour to
catch him in No. |, but without sue
cess. Until he was troubled he was
perfectly quiet, but on the gentleman
approaching within few feet of him he
crawled up the window blind Gt hav-
ing a perfectly smooth surface,) with
the Intention of getting behind the can
vas which formed the ceiling of the
room. A slight tap with a stick brought
him down again. His keeper now ar
rived and attempted to catch him un-
der blanket. His many attempts
caused the snake to become very angry,
and he now repeatedly struck at what
ever was presented to him. Finding
his captOrs getting the better of him
he dropped down to the arch over
the window below Groom No. l4,) from
which he was showed off on to clothes |
line stretched over the top of the bal |
cony below. Some difficulty was en-
perienced in getting the key to the
room where he was expected to be
found. When the door was opened and
a candle procured-for it was nearly
dark-the snakes head was in the win
dow. He evidently intended turn
ing-in" in room not so neac the top of
the house. Another man from the
museum arrived, bringing in blanket
with him; but the snake was now
much excited and so quick in his mo-
tions that the blanket was given up,
and a rope substituted in Its place.


The party repeatedly got the rope
round his neck, but as soon as he felt it,
he ierked his head out Of the moose as
quick as thought. He was resting on
the Out-rigger of the clothes line, aud 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
bowline was dropped over his head. As
soon as he felt its weight he pulled
back, which only tended 10 tighten the
moose the more. He soon discovered
that he was caught; his tail being
wound round the line, was now rcmov-
ed, and he offered no OrcsistancG-in fact,
he could not, rs lie was choked nearly
to death, and like Il good fellow accept
ed the situation. His keeper soon after
returned him to his old quarters, which
he left four weeks ago. So far from
showing n disposition to fight, his chief
aim s.amcd to be 10 get away ilom his
capt0rs. lie only showed fight when
worried to get him TO keep his head III
motion and clear of his body, So as to-
put bowline around his neck. The
bite of boa is not dangerous, but his
strength lies in the crushing force
which he applies to his antagonists.