Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-03

III he Ct. LOulS 1eratu vi tn6 lZtn llSt., re-
lates case Of snake fascination which result
ed fatally The Herald vouches for the truth
Of the statement, the particulars Of which are
stated as follows
g A man by the name Of O'Mara had a
small child, little girl about thirteen years
Of age, who came to her death through the in
huence Of snake, one day last week, under
the following circumstances O'Mara resides
on Copperas Creek, Franklin county, and but
a short distance from the Pacific Railroad de-
pot. Some niue months ago, early last fall,
his family noticed the little girl to Be pfning
away and becoming very weak and pale, al
though she had been very feshy and hearty,
and apparently without cause or complaint Of
sickness.
BY the time winter had fairly set in, she
was wasted to a mere skeleton, but so soon as
the weather became cold she again seemed to
revive. She never complained of being un-
we'll, and in reply to all their inquiries In re-
gard to her health, she invariably said she felt
very well, only little weak As soon as
spring arrived, 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 it. The family noticed her regu-
larly, always going precisely to the same
place, and invariably complaining of being
would be given her, she would again return
to the creek, as they thought, to eat.
heard of the circumstances Of the child's ex-
traordinary 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 din
ner time, when she got up and went to her
fathers 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 lap and
receive the bread and butter from her hand
and when she would attempt to take bite o.
the bread, the snake would commence kissing
and become apparently very angry, when the
child, trembling like leaf, would promptly
return the bread to the monster.
The father was completely paralyzed, not
being able to move hand or foot entertaining,
as most Irish persons do, great dread foI
snakes, he felt alarmed for the safety of his
child, not knowing the nature of the snake OF
the extent>of the influence on his child. His
blood became almost clogged in his veins, and
he groaned in perfect agony, which caused the
snake TO become alarmed and glide away into
the creek. The child then Immediately
sprang 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 delain his child at home,
but he was advised to permit her to 60 again
next day 70 the creek, and follow her and kill
the snake.
Next morning she took piece Of bread and
again went out 10 the creek her father fol-
lowed 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 was
Immediately seized with spasms, acting in a
manner resembling the writhing Of ;he snake,
and finally died the same moment the snake
did, apparently in the greatest agony"