The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1. No. 21, April 1, 1897, page 19 by Various Authors
<< Return to Title Details & Download20
nic batteries was impossible for large electric plants, because the zinc that had to be used was too expensive.
The great point of Mr. Case's discovery lies in the fact that he has succeeded in doing with carbon, and without heat, what the galvanic battery does with zinc.
He is very modest about his invention, and says that at the present moment it has no practical value whatever; but that to scientists a way has been opened which will lead them into a new field of thought; and that, when his discovery has been worked out, and applied to practical methods, tremendous results will be achieved.
* * * * *
A BIG PYTHON.--A story comes from St. Augustine, Fla., of the capture of a huge python by Walter Ralston, a young man who was employed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
Some weeks ago a story was told of the wreck of a ship carrying a circus, and that the big python had escaped, and was in Rock Key, off the Florida coast.
Mr. Ralston determined to go and catch the horrid reptile, so he went down to Florida and tried to secure guides.
He had great difficulty in doing so, for the whole country was in terror of the snake, and no one wanted to take the risk of hunting him.
At last Mr. Ralston found men, and landed at the Key.
They found the snake coiled up on the body of a small doe he had caught. The Indians immediately ran away. But Mr. Ralston was not in the least afraid, and, boldly approaching, tried to put a bag over the python's head.
[Illustration]
The reptile avoided the bag, and struck at him, catching its fangs in his coat, and in a moment had twisted its tail around him, and was crushing him to death in its horrid folds.
He shouted for help, but the Indians were at first too scared to come to his aid. At last one ventured near, and laid hold of the serpent's tail; and the others helping, they succeeded in unwinding the reptile and getting Mr. Ralston out of its clutches. He was more dead than alive, but even then