Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (City of Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1853-1857, 1855-08-21
A Frightful Snake Story.

The following incident was related to us
the other day by one whose y~eracity is IN
questioned, and VINO was an eyewitness of
the fact. 1t is more appalling than any we
can recollect to have read In the history of
these reptiles.
Some time last summer the inhabitants of
Manchester, Mis- iissippi, gave a barbacus,
which was attended by most of the fashion
and beauty Of the town and surrounding
country. 1t happened that among til e guests
there was a young lady, Miss NJ, recently
from one Of the eastern cities, who was on
a visit to her relations IN the neighborhood
of the town.
Miss NJ. was q gay and extremely fashion
able young lady, and wlthall possessed an
uncommon share Of spirit and courage, ex-
cept in the matter OF snakes, and Of those
she had so great a dread that she scarcely
dared to walk anywhere. except in the most
frequented places, for fear Of encountering
them. Every effort was used, but without
avail, to rid her Of her fears They haunt
od her continually, until at last 1t became
the settled conviction of her mind that she
was destined to fall by the fangs of Il rat
tlesnake. The sequel will show how soon
that terrible presentiment was fulfilled.
Towards the close Of the day, while
scores Of fairy feet were keeping time in the
dance to the music, and the whole company
were in the full tide Of enjoyment, a scream
WAS heard from Miss NJ, followed by the
most agonizing cry for help. The crowd
gathered around her instantly, and beheld
her standing, the perfec5 image OF despair,
with her hands grasplng a portion of her
dress with all the t~enaclty Of a vice. Ii was
some time before she could be rendered SUI
fcicntlv calm TO tell the cause Of her alarm,
and then they gathered from her broken ex-
clamation that she was grasping the head
Of a snake in the folds of her dress, and
feared to let 90 her hold for fear of receiv-
ing the fatal blow. This Intelligence caus-
ed many to shrink from her but most of the
ladies, for their honor be it told, detormin-
ed not TO leave her in her dreadful extremity,
they besought her not TO loose her hold, as
safety depended upon 1t, until some one
could be found with courage to sieze and re-
move the terrible animal. There were none
of the ladies, however, to perform the act
and the situation Of Miss NJ. was becom-
ing more and more critical every moment
1t was evident that her strength was fail
ing fast, and that she could not maintain
her hold many minutes longer.
A hasty consultation among the calm
est OF the ladies was held, when it was de-
termined that Mr.. Tison,, who was pres
ent, should be called to their assistance
He was quickly on the spot, and being 9
man Of uncommon courage, be was moi
many minutes within the circle Of the weep
ing and half-fainting females, until lie
caught the tail of the snake and wound il
round his hand to make sure Of his hold.
He then told Miss 81. that she must lei
go at the moment he jerked it away; and
10 make the act as instantaneous as posi-
BILE, he would pronounce the words one,
two, three, and at the moment he pro-
nouneed the last word, she must let go Her
EDld, and he doubted hot he could with
draw the snake before it had time to strike
All stood IN breathiess horror, awaiting the
act of life and death; and ar the moanen;
the word three was pronounced, the doctor
jerked nut the largest and most diabolical
hustle that ever was seen 10 Mississippi!
The whole affair was now explained
The ~fastenings of the machine had become
loose during the dancing, aud it had shift
ed its position in such = way thatpit-aesg-
lsd about she Ldy's limbs, and js(tced
the belief that il was . snake witA~sAAsa-
ormous head. saf n1r
The deetor fell right down in his tracks,
and faintcd---he did.