Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-08-19
SNAKE FASCINATION.

The St. Louis Herald Of the 10Th ult., re.
lates case Of snake fascination which re.
suited fatally. The Herald youches for the
truth Of the statement, the particulars ol
which are stated as follows:
ga man by the name Of O'Mara had a
small child, little girl about l3 years of oge
who came TO herdeath through the influence
of snake, one day last week, under the fol-
lowing circumstances 0'Mara resides on
Coppens Creek, in franklin county, and but
short distance from tho Pacific Railroad
depot. Some nine months ago, early last
fall, his family noticed the little girl to be
pining away, and become very weak and
pale, although she had been very ileshy and
hearty, and apparently without any cause or
complaint Of sickness. -,lt
By the time winter had fairly set in she
was wasted away to mere skeleton: but as
soon as the weather became cold, she again
seemed to revive. She never complained Of
being unweil, and in reply to all their en-
quiries in regard to her health, she invaria-
bly, said she felt very well, only little
weak As soon as spring arrived, she could
no, oe prevailed upon to eat any ric,uals in
her fathers honse, but would take a piece
of bread aud butter, or piece Of meat, and
90 GU, to The edge Of the creek TO eat it
The family noticed her, regularly, always
going precisely to the same place, and inva-
riably complaining Of being hungry, after
her return, when, if more vic,uals would be
given her, she would again return TO the
creek, as they thought 10 eat.
Finally, some Of the circumstances OF the
child's extraordinary conduct, 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
wen, 10 her fathers house, asking for piece
Of bread and butter, and again returned TO
the same place she had been. Her father
kept behind her without making uoIse.-
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 but
Ter from her hand and when she would al
temp, ,oftsksa bite Of the bread, the snake
would commence Kissing and become appa,
ren,ly.yery angry, when the childarembline
| like leaf, would promptly return the bread
TO tho monster.
The father was completely paralyzed, not
being able to move hand or foot; entertain
ing, as most Irish persons do, q great dread
Of snakes, hs felt alarmed for the safety o
his child, no: knowing the nature Of the
snake or the ex,en, Of the influence on hi:
child. His blood became clogged in his
veins, and he groaned in perfect agony
which caused the snake to become alarmed
aud glide away into the creek. The chile
then Immediately spEans to her feet and raj
home, apparently much frightened, He
father followed her, but she refused to an
swer any questions, and he then resolved t'
delain his child at home, but he was advised
to permit her 10 60 again mex, day 10 The
creek, and follow her and kill the snake.
Next morning, she took piece OF b'eae
and again wen! out to the creek; her fathe
followed her with his gun in his hand, ant
as soon as the snake made his appearane'
shot him through the head. The chilli
swuoned the snake squirmed and WORKED
himself around awhile and then died ; th'
child in the meantime recovered from he
swoon, bu, was Immediately seized will
spasms, acting in a manner resembling 'h'
writing Of a snake, and finally died lh'
same moment the snake did, apparently ii
the greatest agony
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