Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Port Jarvis, [N.Y.] Gazette: “I never lie about snakes,” Warren replied. Do you remember that about three years ago a collision occurred on the Delaware division to a train carrying O’Brien’s circus and menagerie, and that the snake cage was demolished, and two or three snakes escaped in the darkness. Well, one of these snakes was an anaconda, fourteen feet long, and although it has been seen on several occasions, was never captured. Last Monday a Turk wearing a red turban hat, knee and baggy breeches, and a pair of stockings, but no shoes, arrived at Lackawaxen and inquired the way to Shohoia Falls. He started out, but losing his way found himself late at night alongside of Rattlesnake Creek, tired out, and no house or shelter within sight. The night was very chilly, and the Turk finally lay down on a mossy bank and went to sleep. The next morning two trout fishermen, who had taken an early start, were amazed to discover the Turk lying in a stupor, while a huge slimy, but beautifully stripped snake was endeavoring to swallow him whole. When the fishermen arrived the snake had one of the Turk’s legs swallowed to a point above the knee, and was making but slow progress, having undertaken a bigger job than it expected. The fishermen had no difficulty in killing the snake, as they had it at a disadvantage, being unable to get any further ahead or back out. It was fourteen feet long, and the identical anaconda which had escaped from O’Brien’s circus three years ago. Hompy Williams, the celebrated snake charmer of Lackawaxen, will preserve and mount it, this being the only anaconda ever discovered in Pike County.
“What became of the Turk, Warren?” was the next question. “O, he came around all right. By vigorous rubbing with whiskey, circulation was restored in his leg, and he was able to resume his journey the same day. He was supplied with a pair of boots, the natives being fearful that he would be bitten by a rattler, and that they would then be compelled to bury him, as he was unable to purchase a bottle of rattlesnake antidote. It’s cheaper to buy boots then coffins and dig graves.