Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-05


az Paris, from a committee appointed
to examine the circum stances which
attended the death of Mr.. Drake, at
Rouen, on the 9Th of last February
Nh. Drake was an EnglishmAn, of
about fifty years Of age, and was con-
yeyIng from London to Paris three
rate snakes and several young croco
dies outstanding the precau-
lions he had taken to defend them from
he cold on The road, he iound on his
arrival. that the finest OF the rattle
snakes was dead. The two others,
which seemed in d languIshlng condl
ton, were carried ~ their cage and
placed Deer the stove On exciting
them with a small stick, one oil them
did not give any signs OF lite. To as.
sure himself OF the fact, Mr.. Drake was
so imprudent as to open the cage, TO
take hold OF the reptile by the
head aud toll, and, approaching the
window to handle 1t TOR the pu pose OF
ascer,aining whether or not II the snake
was dead, when the snake suddenly
turned its head a quarter round, and
plunged one of lis iangs into the back
of Mr. brakes hand, The poor man
cried out, pronounced several words
n English, and to prevent any further
accident, did not 1t 20 the snake, but
WAS putting it again INTO the cage,
" hen he received another bite in the
palm of the same hand. He then ran
into the yard, earnestly desired that a
physician might be sent for, looked for
water, and not finding it fast enough,
rubbed his hand upon some ice al the
door. Two minutes afterwards, he
took a cord and bound it round his
arm below the wrist His agitation
and anxiety was continually increasing,
when the arrival of the physician IN
some degree %tranqullized him The
wounds were immediately cautei lied,
and the patient drank half a glass of
olive oil. He then appeared perfectly
composed: but in the course of a few
minutes, the most fatal symptoms mani
tested themselves, and destroyed all
hope of saving the unhappy victim
His death took place eight hours after
the accident. On examining the body,
n outside presented nothing remark
able. lD the inside, the organs were
all healthy 1t was observed with
establishment, that neither the brain
MOI The spinal marrow had experience
ed any change, except the membrane
which covered it was slightly tlnged
with red The veins did not seem to
be inf med: and the only morbid APP
pearsnce which the corpse exhibited,
was d great number of clots OF blood
in the veins of the bitten side. 1t IS
a curious fact, ard n which shows
The activity aud power OF the venom,
that the rattle snake which bit Mr..
Drake having been sent TO the Muse
urn of Natural History, and there dis
sected, one of the optr al pricking
himself eight days afterwards with the
scaipel which had been employed in
the dissection, was Immediately attack
ed with a swelling in the hand, VIC
lent pains in the glands of the arm SEC.
Santa Fe 1dpentm es.-A Fayette,
(Mo.) paper contains an interesting
letter ftom one Of a party which lately
LETT that vicinity on a commercial expe
ditioa to New Mexico:-Co m. Adv.
Santa Fe Trace. 100 miles west
Of Franklin, May Is, lS27.-Agreea
bly, to previous arrangement. the Santa
F. company generally arrived at the
Blue Springs, the place of rende vou
on the 18Th inst We have in company
about one hundred and five men and
thirty three wagons and pleasure car
riages. Our line of march is at least
one mile in length. AMI is said TO be
extremely beautiful to the eye OF a
spectator, and certainly must appear
formidable in the estimation of Indians.
The company is the largest which has
traversed this route, and in tine spirits,
and do not entertain a doubt of going
through in perfect safely We have
adopted our form of government, and
elected officers to carry it into effect
and operation. Although a pretty &c
neral apprehension seems to have pre-
vailed that the present company VIII
be in danger, yet u numbers u dis
cipline will ensure Dur safety. Our
government is almost as complete aud
perfect as though we composed a iu'i
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