Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 307, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1912 — BABY IS HELD BY SNAKE [ARTICLE]

BABY IS HELD BY SNAKE

Reptile, Attacked in Time, Seems to Grow Angrier as Little Victim Struggles for Freedom. San Gregoria, Cal. —Trapped in the coils of a huge gopher snake, which stole upon her as she lay asleep In a hay field In Wild Goose canyon, five-year-old Charlotte Newman, daughter of a farmer who resides near Davenport, was held captive by the reptile for a half an hour, while frantic children who had discovered her plight summoned help from a distant farmhouse. The little girl, who'ls visiting relatives in the canyon, fell asleep while at play with her juvenile companions In the new mown hay. She was not missed until her cries of terror were heard by the boys and girls. When they ran to her the snake had wrapped itself about her ankles and she was powerless to escape. Frightened at the snake, which semed to be enraged at the struggles of the child, the children hastened to the farmhouse, half a mile distant, to

obtain help from their elderp. When men armed with pitchforks came to the assistance of the girl the snake still held her fast. The reptile was soon killed, and when measured was more than six feet in length.