Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-19
CHAnLEsroS. July IL.

A letter from Savannah, dated 10Th INST re-
ceived by last evenings mail. furnishes the FOL-
lowing particulars Of melancholy accident which
happened the preceding day, on the river, some
miles below thattown:
Itappears that the steamboat George Washing
ton, which had been towing vessel down 'he
river, was on her return. when ooat, on ooa'u
of which was MIR. Isaac Scudder, highly respect
able mechanic, who has been engaged tor some
time past with number Of workmen, IN erecting
Beacon. &c. for Government, went alongside
the steamboat, in boat with six hands, to put
letter on board for town. Having delivered the
letter, the boat continued in tow Of the steamboat,
until she got abreast of the place at which Mr..
S. wished to land-when he directed her TO De
cast of; some difficulty occurred IN loosinS the
line, and three or four Of the hands getting INTO
the bow of the boat at once for the purpose, the
boat, at the same time taking broad sheer, in
stantly filled. aud all hands were preciptated IN
to the river. AS soon as their situation was OBJ
served on board of the steamboat. her engine was
stopped, and every effort was made to save them;
but before this could be done, MIR. Seudder, with
three of his workinen, had sunk to rise no more:
the other three were saved.
The horned Snake. "A few years ago, young
man of responsibility in this town, passing through
wood about two miles distant. encountered one
Of these serpents, which Immediately attacked him
without being at all provoked. His eye CHANGED
tofall upon il, at the moment it had thrown itself
into the hoop form. and having stick in his hand.
he fortunately parted the blow aimed at him. by
striking the reptile as it threw itself towards him.
Not discouraged by his failure, the snake renew.
ed the charge-the gentleman stepping backwards
and defending himself with his cane; for he had
heard of the danger of running from the foe
In this way he defended himself successfully
against eight several attempts TO strike him. The
enrased creature at every failure Immediately
throwing himself into the same form and spring
| ing towards him, with the tail foremost -
After the eighth effort. NE serpent, whether
| frOme xhaustion, or the blows he had received,
was unable to resume the form in which it had
continued its attacks, though it made several
unsuccessful attempts to do so; and was kill
ed by the gentleman and brought to town.
where it was examined by the gentleman who has
furnished US with these facts. 1t was between
seven and half and eight feet long, and seven
inches in crcumference-ofa light ash color, with
dark ash spots along the back-tapering in its
form, and with hard horny substance, about
two inches long at the end of the tail, which was
sufficiently pointed to ihlct wound. Under
the tall, and ABOUT nail an lnca from the punt
was slit about an inch long, through which, when
the point was pressed slightly upwards, project
ed small polished tube about the size OF a com
mon straw. brought, however. to point-through
this tube it is supposed the virus was injected in,
to the wound made by the horn, which pressed
upon bag or sac Of poison. situated at the spot
where the horn was joined t. the body. When
the point struck any object. it was slightly ele
yated-thus AT the same time messing upon the
sac at the root, and protruding the tube through
the slit, directly to the wound.
The gentleman who killed it. states that, as
well as he could ascertain, the serpent leaped for
ward about length and half, or about ta0elre
feet, at each effort it made to strike. The mo-
ton was quick and strong, and consisted in
throwing itself from the hoop form into straight
line, while the force it employed seemed to push
it forward about four feet at every exertion.
S. Carolina paper.