A Python at Large on the Bolton Castle What is the correct thing to do when confronted with a python?
On Monday, a representative of this paper pus the question dis-erectly to the second mate of the Bolton Castle, who recently had the pleasure of meeting one of these engaging reptiles, quite intermatly of course, at close quarters. The second mate's answer was that he simply fled.
The circumstances of this wise proceeding were incidental to the Bolton Castle's voyage between Hongkong and Shanghai. At Sin Bapore, the ship took aboard a small menagerie, including two pythons, one of which is the star performer in this story. Apparently, a python is easily packed for a voyage. It is not deemed worthy of strong bolts and bars. These particular specimens—consigned 10 a New York dealer—were coiled cosily in light wooden boxes, just large enough to contain their huge bulk, and the top of each having an opening covered with a single layer of wire netting. By all the rules the pythons, each about 20 ft. long and with bodies close upon 12 in. in diameter, should have slept almost the whole voyage through, having been provided at Singapore with a meal "heavy" enough to suffice until Panama was reached.
Ir Fett Hunery-
It would seem however that one of them was inadvertently placed on short rations. Hence the fact that, when the vessel was some few houra out from Shanghai, it thrust its head through the flimsy wire netting and gradually worked its way out on to the deck—the bridge deck. The second mate was first watch. He chanced to look down and noticed what at first glance seemed a stream of water trickling across the deck. Perhaps a moonbeam striking the glittering scales of the monster created this innocent illusion. In any case, the mate regarded it with mild unconcern until the supposed "stream"—imitating the rod of Moses—reared its formidable head a couple of feet above the deck. The Python! The mate stood not upon the order of his going. He just fled. He would have given a streak of lightning a good start and a beating as he slid down the companion.
Two passengers were sleeping on the lower bridge. These the mate thoughtfully awakened. He then told the Captain, and the Captain told the crew, and all gathered te-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.