The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-06-25
Number o.

Incredible story relatiug to the poison Of
the rattiesnake.-To give you an idea Of
the long time this poison retains its proper.
ty shall relate curious, but well authen-
tica ted series of facts which took place in a
central district of the State of Pennsylva.
mia, some twelve or fifteen years ago.
farmer was SO slightly hit though the boot
by rattesnake, as he was walking TO view
his ripening corn fields, that the pain fellby
him was thought 10 have been from the
scratch of thorn, not having seen or heard
the reptile. Upoi his relnrn home. he
felt on sudden, violently sick at the s,om-
ach,vomited with great pain, g. died in few
hours. Twelve months after this, The eldest
son, who had taken his fathers boots; put
them on and went 10 church at some dis.
tance On his going to bed that night
whilst drawing of his bools,he felt slightly
scratched on the leg but merely mentioned
j, TO his wife, and rubbed the place with his
hand. In a few hours, however, ne was
awakened by violent pains-complainsd of
Of a general giddiness tainted frequently,
died before any succour could be applied
with success; the cause of bis illness, also
being quite mystery. IL cou,se Ct time
his effects were sold, and second brother
through flial affecten, purchased the boots
and, if remember rightly, put them on a.
bout two years after. As he drew them
off, he felt scratch, and complained Of il
E when the widowed sister, being present re-
]. collected that samspaih had been felt by
+ her husband on the like occasion, the
n youth suffered and died in the same way
e as his father and brother did before him.
These repeated and singular deaths being ru-
!. mored in the country, medical gentleman
I. called upon the friends OF the deceased, 10
d inquire into the particulars, and one. pro-
e nounced their deaths to have been occas-
IL stoned by venom. The boots that had been
the cause Of complaint, were. brought
IS to him, when he cut one Of them open
III with care, and discovered the extreme point
ID of the fang of ratesnake issuing from the
ID leather, and assured the people tha. this had
re done all the mischief. To.prove This satis-
a factor;ly, he scratched with it the nose of
y. dog, and the dog died in few hours, from
ID the poisonous effects. it was still able TO
,e convey. In contamination Of these facts,
Or have been told, by native Americans, thae
I'd arrows, dipped in rattlesnake venom would
or carry death for ages after.
,g Audupon's notes on the ratlesnake.
.......e--....a
~ A Dutch Robbing Game.-Der Dent.
che tells good thing Of fellow who went
:" into grocery store and called for q quart
= of molasses. The moasses was brought
:" and the purchaser demanded to have il
= poured into his hat. The grocsr's clerk
r. offered TO lend him measure, but no--,he
PURCHASER insisted upon having il put into
bis hat, at the same time laying down {
piece of money which required change. The
" shopman,m much wondering at SC odd whiu
:, hcsi,ated no longer, but doused the molass
- es into his customers old hat, and iher
pulled ou, his money drawer to make
-. change. In twihkling the rascally puf
- - chaser dropped The hat on the young gro
- GERS head, grabbed OH thd money whit
-, his reach and coolly put the gro
:, GERS good hat on his own head, and Wake
off whistling while the shopkeeper wa
blinking, choking and smoihering in bal
of molasses.
Impcrfinencs weH Punished.
English people were visiting sn elegal
me- private garden at Palermo, Sicily, ,and amor
the little ornamental buildings. they can
to one upon which was writer Mon ape
'hu ite.' that is, 'Don't open.' This prohib
ton only served TO excite their ccriosit
and they very uncivilly proceeded 10 dis
'ne bey the hospitable owners injunction. &
IN opening the door forcible jet OF wat
you was squirted full in their faces--a We
just, though not very severe retribdtion.