Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-26
DAILY \iKmlNIAN.



rent month is very interesting article on "the
kattlosnako and its tonurors" A number IF
anecdotes bearing on the subject are given. the
authenticity of which must be OF the strongest
Kind to cntlte them 10 crcdlbillty Among them
are the following, which suhjoin, with tho
double purpose of interesting readers in gen
| oral, aud ot inducing such an examination OF the
stories as may lead to their substantintion or their
mynlidation
Tho Southern negroes will never kill II snake,
giving reason that il will cnnse them 'bad
luck" This idea Is evidently traditionary with
them, brought hy their ancestors from Africa.
Many of them also nppcnr 10 hive the power, #
cultivated. oi charming snakes; for, If so dis
posed, they will handle ANY snnke they como
across with impunlty. \ phN oienn of Ionisl-
ann, who had desire to study the habits Of the
"til"snoke, kept number IN cagr, aud, for
tc II ot accident had IT plaecd in the distant cor
nrr of II inrge room in which he slept 1t wns tho
doctors custom, ON his return home at night, to
take II glance ut the reptiles, To assure himself
that they had been properly cured for through
the day, and also To see If the door of the cage
was securely fastened One night having come
homo very late and much inligued he neglected
his usual precautions aud at once retired. The
weather wns exceedingly hot, and notwithstand
| lns his exhaustion, several hours ghded away
without his obtaining nny sleep. suddenly ho
henrd light sliding noise along the floor, nnd
cautiously looked out 10 learn the cause. Tho
moonlight WA shining full into the room, and to
his horror he discovered the largest of hs snakes
roaming free about the room. Whnt wns Ia be
| dono' \ loaded gun was at the farthest end of
the room. but was this the only serpent out OF tho
! eng" Were all the rest at liberty The whole
/ household being asleep, the doctor concluded it
waS better 10 wait until morning, taking the pro
caution To tuck his mosquito hnr with extrn cnro
around his bed, and thus imprisoned, he impat
cntIy watched tho issue 'lho snake continued
hls travels, and finally approached the bed, and
| ull became silent.
At dnyght the doctor hcnrd the steps of his
! body servant. who WINS coming, according In Gus
! tom, to perform his morning duty. The doctor
! cried out to HIM not 10 open the door, bat Ia 20
/ ior nn old African negro, nnmrd lsanc, who was
! Known 10 approach all snakes without fear. The
negro came, aud entered upon his task confident
! y, and after moment or two found the cause of
/ alarm quietly sleeping under the bed, The 9th.
! 'rsuakes were IN the eage, although the door
| open. The doctor insisted upon the ncgro's
| shooting the snnkc hut he iatly refused, and de-
| clnr'd himself nble to size the animal without
| the least fear of being bitten by him. Advan-
cling towards the bed, he commenced whistling
and pronnuncing soothinG words in the
mnnnrr a. the snakr coniurnr- of India. After
/ SOM minutes he vouturcd to pass his hands over
| the Lack of the -nalle, nl the time using sooth-
! ing sounds. Finally, he lifted up the snakes
! head, mud induced II to repose upon his bendcd
! urn and body, the snake suffering n this without
! hetrn, ing the least fright or emotion.
| The doctor. agitated for tho safety ef the ser
| ynnt, and wishing the mnttcr to end desired the
negro to put the snnke in the cagc This Isaac
said was impossible for him 10 do. and upon the
negro approaching the prison house, the snake,
if con cien- f his purpose immediately erect
! lis head in anger md sprnnp is rnttle. Where
! upon ssnc walked in nnofhor direction began his
! innaniatops. and the rcntiln .gns soon calm. lie
! then asked for n sheet. and BIZ degrees accnstom
/ ed the snake To its siqbt. mud t6nn missed ono
i e1ge Of il between hi. arm and tbe animal.
/ body, snufinufpp his ,bopdIiug mud WALKING
/ n5ont nIl the time A sa,n os he vas certain
Tim, bo oould ,nv ,,, th,. r,,tiI. ia tho sI,c, b
,n,,i,!lv thre,v il aro,nd hin, nnd tho snake wus
! mn tered Nv n sories oc Il ilt,,l n,ovenonts be
rot the snake b,cl int, In. alI ,,arter. o,itIout
haying r.ceived tn, si,Ltost ini,,,, and tLns ,le
adventure Terminated the pepIo. buurv,r. do
elarinp that he cnnld never oqain charm tbnt
snake, beoa1se he Ind used his power IA deceive
il
Tho gentleman who relotes ,bo ,hoyc inc;1pnt
IL unthori,v for ,notb.r ,,bi.h ,o,,o ,or, nom,
treaic,l ,erminot;on h,,t,,.,f III. acn,,in.
lnnce nse1 ,n.n,ni,.. Li,,,,If ,,le,a,,. l,c mo,
witt fine @snerimrn nr n ,nttlesnaLe. with en-.
bled nfter much e,rtri,nca T., ,l, la. tn.ons nf