Butte record., 1854-09-30
SNAKE FASCINATION.

The St. Louis Heraid of the 18th oi
July, relates case Of ii snake fascina-
ton which resulted fatally The Her
asI vouches for the truth of the state
nent, the particulars of which are given
rs foil VS.
"a man By the name of O'Mara had
a snail child, Il little giTl about thirteen
Years Of age, who came to her death
through the influence OF snake. one
day last week. under tho following cir
cumstances: O'Mara resided on Cop
peras Creek, in Franklin county, and
but short distance from the Pacific
Roilroad depot Some nine month ae,
early last fail, his family noticed The
liii!e girl 10 be pinisg away and beeom-
Jag very weak, and spa!e, although she
had been Very aeshy and hearty, and
apparently without any cause or com
plaint Of sickness.
BY the time winter hid fairly set in,
she Was wasted away to mere skeleton,
but a. soon as the weather became cold
she again seemed to revive. She never
complained Of being unwell, and in re-
ply to all their inquiries III regard to
her health, she invariably said she felt
very well, only little weak. As soon
as spring arrived, she could not be pre-
vailed upon to eat any victaals in her
fit..er's house, but would take piece of
bread and butter, Or piece of meat,
and go ont to tue edge of the creek to
eat it. The family noticed her regular
lty, always going precisely to the same
place, and invatiable complained Of be-
ing hungry after her returned, when if
more victaals would be given he. she
would again return to the creek, as they
thought, to eat.
Finally, some of the neighbors having
heard Of the circumstances OF the child's
extraordinary conduct, aud also Of her
wasted appearance, suggested to her
father to tch her movements, which
he did last Friday. The child had been
sitting on the bank of the creek nearly
all the forenoon, until near dinner time,
when ste got up and went to her fat er's
house, asked for piece of bread and
butter, and again returned TO the same
place she had been. Her father kept
behind her without making any noise.
As soon as the child was seated, the
father saw huge black snake slowly
raise its head into her lip and receive
the bread and butter from her hand
and when she would attempt to take
bit Of the bread, the snake would COM
mence kissing AID become apparently
very angry, when the child trembling
like leaf, would promptly return the
bread to the monster.
The father was completely paralyzad,
not being able to move hand or foot; ;
entertaining, as most Iri,h persons do,
a great dread for snakes, be felt alarmed
for the safety of his child, not knowing
the nature oil the snake or the extent OF
the influence on his child His blood
became almost clogged in his vains, and
he groaned in perfect agony, which
caused the snake to become alarmed
and glide away INTO the creek. The
child Immediately sPrans to her feet and
ran home, apparently much frightened.
Her father followed her, but she refused
to answer any questions, and he then
resolved to deta,n his child at home, but
he was advised to permit her 10 90 again
next day to the creek, and follow her
and XIII the snake.
Next morning she took a piece of
bread an again went out to the creek;
her father followed her with his gun in
his hand and as soon as the snake made
his appearance shot him through the
head. The child swooned the snake
squirmed and worked himself around
awhile and then died the child in the
meantime recovered from her swoon,
but r7as immediaiely seized with spasms,
acting in a manner resembling the wrIth-
ering OF the snake, and finally died the
same moment the snake did, apparently
IN the greatest agony"
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