Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-07-02
VOL. 3.---NO. 279.
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
From the Mississippi Journal.
A Frightful Snake Story.

The following incident was related to us the
other day by one whose veracity is unquestioned,
and who was an eye witness of the fact Il is
moro appalling ihaD any reoollect to have ey-
or read IN the history of these reptiles:
Some time last summer the inhabitants of Man
chester, Mississippi, gave n barbecue which was
attended by most Of the fashion and beauty of
the town and surrounding country. IL happen
ed that among the guests there was young lady
Miss Nj; recently from of tho eastern cities
who was on visit to her relations in the neigh
borhood of the town.
Miss NJ. wis gay and extremely fashionable
Young lady, aud withal possessed an uncommon
sharc of spirit aud courage, except in q matter
of snakes, and of those she had so great dread
that she scarcely dared to walk anywhere, ex-
eept in the most frequented places, for fear of
encounterng them. Every effort was used but
without avnll, 10 rid her other childish fears
They haunted her continually. until at last il
became the settled conviction of her mind that
she was destined 10 fall victim to the fangs of a
rattlesnnke. iho sequel will show how soon her
te,,'hie presenilmcnt fulfilled.
Towards the close of the day, while scores of
the fairy feet were keeping time in tho dance to
the music, and the whole company were in the
tnll tide OF enjoyment, n scream was heard from
Miss. NJ, followed by the most agonizing cries
Tor help. The crowd gathered round her instant
v and boheid her standing the perfect image of
despair, with hnnds grasping portion of her
dress with all the tenacty of vice. 1t was
some time before she could be rendered sufi-
oiently calm To tell the cause of her alarm; and
then they gathered from her broken exclama-
ton that she was graspng tho head of snake
among the folds Of her dress, and feared to let go
h ~ hold for fear of receiving tho fatal blow
ms InteIlg' nee caused mnny 10 shrink from her
but most OF tho Indies, for their honor be il told
determlnednot to leave her in her dreadful OK
rcmity.
Tho, bpaan.,bt bar D., IL L.. LII r..
ty depended upon il, until some one could bo
found with courage enough to seize and remove
tho terrible animal. There were none of the
Indies, however TO perform the act and the stu
alton of Miss NJ. was becoming more and more
critical every moment, Ii was evident that her
strength wns falng fast, and that she could not
maintain her hold many minutes longer.
A hnsty consultation among the calmest of the
ladles was held, when il was determined that Mr..
Iison, who wns present. should be called to their
assistance. lie was quickly ON the spot, and be-
ing man OF uncommon courage, he was not
many minutes within tho circle Of weeping and
half iaintng females until he caught tho tail of
the snake and wound it around his hand to make
sure of his hold
He then told Miss NJ. that she must let go at
the moment he lerked it away and to make the
act as instantaneous as possible, no would pro-
nounce the words one, two three, and at the
moment he pronounced the last work, she must
let go her hold, and ho doubted not he could
Withdraw the snake before il could have time TO
strike. All stood in breathless horror, awaiting
the not of life nr death and at the moment the
word three pronounced. tho doctor jerked
out tho largest and most diabolical looking bus
tir that was ever seen in Mississippi. The
whole affair WIS then explained Tho fastenings
of the machine had become loose during the
dancing aud it had shifted its position in such a
way that it dnnglcd about the lady's limbs. and
induced the belief that il was u snake with an
enormous head.
Tho doctor fell right down in his tracks, and
tainted