The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-18

SNAKE FAsCINATION.-We have occasionally read
accounts Of persons having been fascinated or spell
bound by sna kes, but never knew of an instance
occurring in our vicinity until day or two since,
and one that we know to be a fact A man by the
name Of OMara had small child. little girl about
thirteen years OF age, who came to her death
through the influence of snake one day last week,
under the following circumstances:-O'Marar resides
on Copperas Creek in Franklin county, and but
short distance from the Pacific Railroad depot.
Some nine months ago, early last fall his family
noticed the little girl to be pning away, and becon
ieshy and hearty, and apparently without any
cause or complaint Of sickness By the time winter
bad fairly set in, she was wasted away to mere
skeleton, but as soon as the weather became cold
she again seemed TO revive. Sac never complained
of being unwe and in reply to all their inquiries in
regard to her health, she invariably said she felt
very well, only little weak. As soon as spring ar
rived, she could not be prevailed upon to eat any
victuals in her fathers house, but would take
piece of bread and butter, or piece of meat, and
go out to the edge of the creek to eat IL. The
family noticed her regularly, always going precisely
to the same place, and invariably complaining Of
being hungry after her return when II more vctuas
would be given her, she would again return to
the creek, as they thought, to eat
Finally, some Of the neighbors having heard Of
the circumstances of the childs extraordinary
duct, and also of her wasted appearance suggested
to her father to watch 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 she got up and went to her
fathers house, asked for piece Of bread and but
ter, 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 lap and receive the bread and butter from
her hand; and when she would attempt 70 take
bite of the bread, the snake would commence hiss
ing and become apparently very angry, when the
child, trembling like leaf would promptly return
Il bread to the monster. The father was CON-
pletely paralyzed, not being able to move hand or
foot; entertaining, most Irish persons do great
dread for snakes, he felt alarmed for the safety Of
bis child, not knowing the aature of the snake or
the extent of the influence on his child His blood he
came almost cloggcd in his veins and groaned in per-
feet agony which caused the snake TO become alarmed
and glide away into the creek. The child then mme
diatey sprang TO her feet and ran home apparently
much frightened Her father followed her but she re
fused 70 answer any questions aud he then resolved
70 detan his child at home, but he was advised 70
permit her to go again next day to the creek and TO
follow her and kill the snake. Next morning she
tooka piece o. bread again and went out TO the
creek her father followed her with his gun in his
hand, and as soon az the snake made his appear
ance shot him through the head. The child swooned;
the snake squirmed and worked himself around
awhile and then died; the child in the meantime re-
covered from her swoon, but was Immediately seized
with spasms, acting In manner resembling the
writhing Of the snake and finally ded at the same
moment the snake did, apparently in the greatest
This horrible, and at the same time melancholy
occurrence Il the first we have heard of for long
time, and In fact the first we ever knew Of where
we could positively vouch for It's truthful correct
ness. We know that there are persons who doubt
the reality Of snake fascination, but IL they enter
tain any doubts on this subject hereafter the rcla
tives Of this unfortunate little girl can be found
ready and willing 10 corroborate our statement This
should serve as q warning TO parents who re-
side in the country to be more careful In watching
their children.
We bad almost forgot to mention that Il was
black snake, Generally supposed 10 be harmless,
that IL, not poisonous,) seven feet six inches in
length. that fascinated the little gir.-St. Louis
Herald, Jplyis.