The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-02-02
.WISCEEEnH.N,EOTS.
FRIGHTFUL SNAKE STORY

The following incident vas related to US
tho other day, BY one whose reracity is un
questioned, and who was almost an eye vii,
ness Of the fact. 1t is more appalling than
any we recoIecE to have ever read IN the his
tory Of these terrible reptiles Sometime
las. summer, the inhabitants of--,
gave barbecue which was attended BY
most OF the fashion aud beauty OF the town
and surrounding country. Il Happened that
among the guests there was young lady.
Miss NJ, recently from enc OF the eastern
cities, who was 90 q visit 10 her relations 10
the neig hborhood of town. Miss ii. was
gay and extremely fashionable young Ia
dy, and wilhal possessed an uncommon
share Of spirit ard courage, except in the
matter Of snakes--and Of these she he'd SO
great dread that she scarcely dared TO
yak any where except in the most frequent.
ed places, for fear Of eucounterlng them
Every effort was used, but without avail, 10
nd her Of her childish fears. They haunt
ed her continually, emil at last it became
the settled conviction Of her mind that she
was destined TO fall victim 10 the lanss of
a ratlle.sneke. The sequel will show how
/ soon her terrible presenIment was fulfilled.
Towards the close Of the day while scores
Of fairy feet we're keeping time in the dance
10 the merry music, and The whole company
~ere IN The full tide of erjoy ment, scream
sas heard from Miss NJ, followed BY the
most agonzing cries for help. The crowd
gathered around her Instantly, and teheld
her standing, the perfec, image o. despair,
with her hands grasplng portion Of her
dress with the teDsclty Of vice. 1t was
sometime before she could be rendered suf.
ticiently calm TO tell the cause of her alarm,
and then they gathered from her broken ex
plantations :aa. she was grasping the head
Of snake among the folds Of her dress, and
dreaded 10 le, 20 her hold for felr Of recriy
ng the fatal blow This intelligence caus
ed many 20 shrink from her, but the most
Of the ladies', TO their honor be il told re.
tnained with her, determined not to leave
her in her dlreful extremity. They be.
sought her no, TO relax her hold, az her
safety depended upon II, until some one
could be found who had the courage 10 seize
aud remove the terrible animal.
There were none of the ladies' however.
who had The courage to perform tie act, and
the condition Of Miss NJ. was becoming more
and more critical every moment. II was
evident, that her strength was falling very
fast, and that she could not maintain her
hold many minutes longer. A hasty con
sultalion among the camesi of the sdIes
vss held, when it was determined that Dr..
T., " no was presen. should be called 10 their
assistance. He was quickly on the spot,
and being man Of uncommon courage, he
was not many moments within the circle Of
weeping aud half laiatlug females, until be
had caught ih. tail o! the snake and wound
i. firmly around his hand to make sure Of
bis hold. lie then told Miss VI. that she
must let 90 a, the moment he iefked IT away,
and to make the act as instantaneous as pos.
sblp, he told her that he would pronounce
the words one, two, three, and that, ut The
, moment he pronounced the last word, she
must lot 60 her hold, and he doubted not
that he could Withdraw the snake before i,
, could have time 10 strike. All stood IN
GREATNESS horrori awaiting the act OF lille o!
death, aad at the moment tho word THREE
was pronounced, the Doctor jerked out the
largest and mos, dIaboIlcal looking BUsrLE
that was ever seen IN Bus,eborough.
The whole affair vas at once explained.
The fastening Of the machine had become
loose during the dancing and It had shifted
it's position in sJch a way tia, they daugIcd
about tho ladies' Leg, and induced the be
lief that 1t was snake with an enormous
head.
The Doctor fell RICH, down in his tracks,
and faiu;cd-he -Orford Mercury.