p. 12 | A Battle with a Snake

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 10, 1916

A Battle with a Snake

In the interior of Nigeria, West Africa, where Brother D. C. Babcock is pioneering among Mohammedans, he had the following experience one night with a big boa constrictor. He says:—

“I am glad we built our house up from the ground high enough to make us safe from large snakes. There seem to be many of them here. Often we see the tracks where they have crawled across the road. One kept visiting Brother Morgue Duncan’s place at intervals of about two weeks. Brother Duncan and some of our boys decided to sit up and watch for it. About ten o’clock one night I was aroused from my sleep by fearful yells. I jumped from my bed only half awake, thinking that the natives were fighting, and ran out to go downstairs, when the cry reached my ears from both sides of the house, “Big snake, big snake!” I got my revolver, and in my night garments, barefooted, I started for the scene.”

“The snake had crossed the road, leaving the house of Brother Duncan, and was in the big grass, making for its hiding place. The boys were so excited and were raising such a tumult that I could not locate the snake. Brother Duncan quieted them, and then told me to listen. I soon heard it breaking the large stems of grass as it crawled along. I knew from the sound that we had a battle on hand. Brother Duncan followed just behind me with a reflecting lantern. I knew we must act quickly, before the snake got ready to meet us. I rushed toward it, with Brother Duncan at my heels, and we soon came upon it. I must confess that when I got a view of only a part of the snake, I was somewhat frightened, but I fired on it. The first shot entered its body about one foot from its tail. I then got within about eight feet of it, and emptied my revolver. One shot went through its body, and I saw three bullets tear up the scales, but glance off.

“The snake then crawled under a ledge of rock, but we did not give up the chase. I reloaded, and we lay down flat, and crawled up to the edge of the rock, pushing our lantern ahead of us. We soon located it about seven feet away. I emptied my revolver into it. The snake came out again. I reloaded, and the boys got around it with burning grass, and we closed in on it. It raised its head about six feet and made for us. All ran but one of my boys, and he held the firebrand quite near the snake and called for me. The boy’s bravery gave me courage. I went close enough to get a shot at its head. One shot struck just below the head, and completely paralyzed the reptile. Thus ended my first experience with a boa constrictor.”