Paulding Boy Serving as a soldier in Cuba Had a Scare.
Mrs C.E. Cooke received a snake skin from her son Harry, which she received the following letter.
Puertoprincipe, Cuba 13 Oct 1899
Mrs C.E. Cooke
I sent you a skin snake of a Cuban snake thinking that you would like to see it. You can give it away if you wish for it give me the hardest fight I ever had and although it is six weeks since I killed it. I am not well yet from its effects. We went out for a few days scouting taking sketches, etc., and becoming tired I sat down to rest, under a palm tree and fell sleep. Almost touching the palm, was a mango tree and the snake was in its branches. I awoke with a start to find its slimy coils slowly encircling my body and you may imagine my surprise and terror. I thought my time had come, but I said to myself there would be a struggle first. I grabbed the snake with my free hand but he began to tighten around me. The trouble was, he was around my shoulders and chest, shutting off my wind. I threw myself with a mighty effort against the palm tree, it almost made me faint, but it caused him to let go his hold a little. As I recovered my breath I became stronger and getting my right hand free, grabbed my gun and finally made his head look as if it had been passed over by a railway train. My hand is very sore from it yet, but think it will be all O.K. in a few weeks. It was not an enjoyable position, and you can bet I won't go to sleep under any tree in this locality. The boys tell me if that snake had been two feet longer, I would be under that tree yet. We expect to be ordered home in May and then go to the Philippines.
Harry Cooke
1st sergt., Co. D., U.S.R Inf
