The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-08-16
A Child Fascinated by a Snake

The editor OF the 81. Louis Herald re
lates an instance of child being fascinated
! by black snake. seven feet, inches long
and vouches for the truth of the story
The child it is said, was little daughter O
= man named O'Mara, about l3 years Q
age, residing in Franklin county, Mo. A
bout nine months ago, the parents observed
the child to be pining away, and becoming
very weak and pale, without apparent cause
| By the time winter had set in, she was a
mere skeleton, but began to revive with the
cold weather. A S soon as spring arrived
however, she could not be prvailed upon tc
eat any victuals IN her fathers house, but
would take piece Of bread and butter, OF
piece Of meat, and 60 out to the edge O
Che creek to eatit. The family noticed hel
regularly. always going precisely to The
same place, and invariably complaining o
being hungry after her return, when, if more
vIctuais would be given to her, she would
again return TO the creek. as they thought
to eat it. Finally. her father determined to
watch her, and followed her as she proceed
ed to the bank Of the creek. We now let
the Herald tell the rest Of the story;
As soon as the child was seated, the fa-
ther saw a huge black snake slowly raise
his head into her lap and receive the bread
and butter from her hand; and when she
would attempt to take bite of the bread
the snake woull commence kissing; and be-
come apparently angry, when The child,
trembling like a Leaf, would promptly return
the bread to the monster. The father was
completely paralyscd not being able to move
hand or, toot-entertaining a great dread
for snakes, he felt alarmed for the safety Of
the child, not knowing the nature Of the
snake or the extent Of the influence. On his
child. w "'' "' 1 '' a'.''.f l.
His blood became almost clogge6 in his
veins, and lie groaned in perfect agony,
which caused the snake to become alarmed,
and glide away into the creek. The child
then irnmed diately sprang 10 her feet and ran
home, apparently much frightened. Her
father followed her, but she refused to an
swer any Questions, and he then resolved to
detain the child at home, but he was adlis-
ed to permit her TO 90 again next dayto the
creek, and to follow her and kill the snake
Next morning she took piece OF bread a.
gain and went out to the creek: her father
followed her with bis 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
binses around awhile, and then died; the
child ia the meantime recovered from her
swoon, bat was Immediately seized with
spasms acting III manner resembling the
Wilhing Of the snake, and finally died at
the same moment the snake did. apparently
IN the greatest agony. 4. N. go,a ,., ...ff ~
\. The Herald, fearful that it viii be set
lown as only a "sndke story,'' rtiterates that
i is true, and says the relatives Of the little
sirl will corroborate the statement. That
'hereis good deal Of exaggregation in the
above, and absolute delusion. there Is no
Ioubts The idea Of snake charming Is long
go exploded, thoggll il is not doubled thai
he morbid fears Of persons often lead them
Q acts, under euch. circumstances, which are
and sometimes even fatal. I,
SOMETHING FOE goTHrSe,A-lltinois Cen
RAJ Rq;lroad.-- Stock is selling in New : York
u Sle5, on which S5 only hss been paid.
Thisis indced getting something for al. "A
,ost nothing. We suppose, however, 1t Is
ltrinsicaily worth more than this, for ii
lmpany viii build their road, costing SIT.
ta4t W. = 4