HUNT FOR A SERPENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8728, 31 January 1907, Page 1

HUNT FOR A SERPENT.

A boa constrictor which firms a side attraction of Oliver's Living Picture Exhibition escaped from the curnival ground at Stratford early in the morning. The serpent, which, though incapable of poisoning anyone, is sufficiently largo and formidable tc crush a human being if it so desired, had been in the habit of sleeping in a strong-box io a special caravan. Ov\in<; to tho coldness of the night, however, its owner had it removed in its box to bin own caravan, whero it was placed under the bed, with a hot-water bottle to keep it comfortable. During the night it managed to raise the heavy lid of its box and uscapo into the open caravan, whence it glided into the world at large through a window. ! Tho escupe was discovered and proclaimed in tLe h:ilf-light of dawn, and there was at once a helter-skelter of men, women, and children from the other caravans oa the show ground. For two hours, during which some men and boys sat on top of the rouiidabout or climbed up the sides of swings, no traces of tho errant boa could be found. Then came aery from msid(> tho tent where the serpent is wont to be exhibited His owner had discovered that the wanderer had coiled up as much of its sinuous body as it could in-ide the large lantern of the cinematograph machine, whither, without doubt, it bad gone for warmth. The boa, however, was loth to leave its , place of refuge. Every time a dash was made to seize it at the back of the head it darted out a yard of supple bjdy, neck, and head with forked tongue and glaring eyes, and hissed horrible threats. At last, jhowfvtr, the lady tamer got in a j cunning jujitsu pip, ai.d two ; minutes later the serpent lay in its old box again, with a freshly-charged hot-water bot'.le, under tho bed in its owner's caravan. Uut not before j certain furry traces round its mouth j had been observed, and the subI sequent discovery that a cat had dis- [ appeared showed how tho boa had j spent part of its night off.