Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Texas snake story related by the Dallas Commercial: Mr. Walters and his wife were returning to the city, in a two-horse buggy, from a trip into the country. About seven miles from town, on the Mansfield road, they passed a snake that was lying on the side of the road, the great size of which attracted their attention. After passing the reptile, Mr. Walters concluded he would turn back and kill it. He turned the team around, drove back to a point opposite the snake, drew his pistol and fired at it, but without effect. The horses not being used to the report of fire-arms, became restless and hard to control, which caused the attention of Mr. Walters to be diverted from the snake, which ran rapidly to the buggy, up the wheels, and on the dashboard befor the occupants were aware of it. The snake, when it was within a foot of the occupants of the carriage, coiled the lower part of its body, threw its neck into a graceful curve, drew back its head, and was just in the act of launching its deadly fangs into Mr. Walters, when he fired the second shot. This, through missing, had the effect to cause the snake to lower itself on the tongue of the carriage. Mr. Walters then fired two more shots, one of which took effect, and caused the reptile to fall from the carriage to the ground, and Mr. Walters dispatched it with a stone. The reptile was measured, and found to be over six feet long, and was thicker than a man’s wrist.