Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-24
O. The New York paper. rive the fallov;r


60 The New York papers give the following
account of the melancholy death of DIR VAIN
wright from tho bite Of a ssake;
On Thursday afternoon, 9th inst, DIR w. re-
coived from abrother-in-law in Alabama, through
one Of our packets, number Of rare plants, &C.,
the production Of that section Of the Union
and, probably, for the purpose of furnishing
subject for more scientific experiments, rattle
snake, six feet long, was contained in the in
voice.
The reptile was securely boxed, but il seems
that DIR W., for the purpose Of exhibiting il TO
some friends in the evening, took the box to the
Broadway House, corner Of Grand and Broad
way, where, knocking of the top, the snake WAS
let loose upon the bar-room floor. Throwing IL
self into coil, the dangerous creature immcdi-
ately commenced that low hum or species Of
ringing, (not the ratte) which is peculiar to his
species, and seemed inclined 10 remain quiet ;
probably the change Of climate produced a sort
Of torpor, and il was repeatedly teased with
stick, without betraying much viciousness- In
deed, one gentleman ventured 80 far rs to raise
it with the toe Of his boot, escaping unscathed.
After being exposed some twenty minutes 10
the gaze OF those present, DIR Wainwright at
tempted to return the snake TO the box, and for
that purpose inconsiderately seized the yenemous
thing with his naked hand when, in an instant,
with only the slightest premonitory rattle, the
reptile raised his head, threw back his upper
jaw, and struck-the fangs entering between the
fingers, and fastening on the inside Of the ring
finger Of the right hand Immediate measures
were taken to prevent the spread Of the poison
throughout the system. The flesh in the neigh
borhood Of the wounded part was cut out, and
DIR Wainwright removed to his house in Crosby
street, where other medical and surgical aid was
called without delay, and in few minutes the
room was filled with his professional friends,
among whom were Drs. Whitaker, Parker and
Caldwell, OF the institute. Energetic means
were made use Of to counteraet the effect of the
venom, but unaccountably, all known remedies
seemed to be Of no avail, and the entire arm
commenced swelling most fearfnlly. At this
juncture we arc informed that DIR Wainwright,
with much presence Of mind, begged TO have an
amputaiion Of the whole arm performed; but,
after consultation, this course was deemed unad-
yisable, and the victim, enduring the most ex-
circulating agony, continued TO sink, and finally
expired at half an hour after midnight-the
lamp Of life going out at last quietly, and with,
apparently, no struggle.
| The unhappy man seemed 10 possess his full
faculties almost 10 the last moment, and was per-
fectly aware Of the fate to which he was inevi-
tably fastening. Some fifteen minutes before
his decease, turning to friend who was support
ing him, this is horrible" said he, as he felt the
extreme pain leaving his hand and the sensation
Of ease slowly creeping up the arm from the
seat Of the wound-''this is horrible Ito know
that death is gradually feeling his way to my Vi.
tails THAT arm Is dead eady--aAd"- placing
the uninjured hand over his heart--"the destroy
or will soon be here |" This acute knowledge Of
his sure dissolution, which, as a medical man, he
must have possessed, could have been naught
else than truly fearful. The body, after death,
presented the usual appearances Of decease from
The bite Of those hideous reptiles it being fright
fully swollen and notified.