Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1894 — AN UNWELCOME PASSENGER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AN UNWELCOME PASSENGER.

A Deadly Cobra Wakes Things Lively oa n Locomotive. I had an experience in Jndia about six years ago, says a traveler, which I would not care to repeat It was ia the middle of August, and, having occasion to make a short journey by rail,-1 was invited by a friend, who was in the employ of the railway company, to ride with him on the en-

gine, as it was the coolest place on the train. We started late in the evening, and nothing unusnal occured until the fireman started, to fill up the furnace. Logs were used for fuel instead of coal. While he was engaged in throwing logs into the fire, a cobra, which had been secreted somewhere among them, diopped from one of thedogs,| landing on the footplate where we were standing. There were four of us human beings on that footplate and this new passenger made things somewhat crowded. There was no stick or club handy, or we could have made short work of the intruder. My companions lost no time in getting out of the way, the engineer crawling out on the footboard and the others clambering back on the pile of logs at the rear, calling on me to follow them. 1, however, seemed to be rooted to the spot. The reptile appeared to enjoy the heat which came from the furnace, and made no hostile movement until I very foolishly made a kick at it, hoping to frighten it away. The creature was not frightened, but seemed to accept it as a challenge and advanced upon me. My nerves were completely paralyzed. I knew that its bite meant certain death, but I could not move a step to save my life. Just as the cobra raised itself to give me the deadly stroke the fireman sprang from the pile of logs belling, and, grasping the snake by the tail, hurled it into the furnace. The brave fellow, by his quickness and presence of mind, saved me from a horrible death.

THE PYTHON IN POSSESSION.