The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-09-06
A Frightful Snake Story.

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The following incident was related to
US the other day, by one whose Veracity
is unquestioned, and who was an eye-wit
ness Of the fact. 1t is more appalling
than we recollect to have ever read ia the
history Of these reptiles:
Some time last summer, the inhabi
tants Of Manchester, Mississippi, gave
barbecue, which was attended by most
Of the fashion end beauty of the surround
ing country, 1t happened that among
| the guests there was young lady, Miss
NJ, recently from one of the eastern
cities, who was on visit 10 her relations
in the neighborhood of the town.
Miss NJ. was gay and extremely
fashionable young lady, and withal pos
sessed an uncommon share Of spirit and
courage, except in matter Of snakes. and
of those she had SO great 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 childish fears They haunted her
continually, until at last it became the SET
tied conviction of her mind that she was
destined to fall victim to the fangs OF
rattlesnake The sequel will show
how soon her terrible presentiment was
fulfilled.
Towards the close of the day, while
scores of the fairy feet were keeping time
in the dance to the music, and the whole
company were in the full tide of enjoy
ment,a scream was heard from Miss NJ +,
followed by the most agonizing cries for
help. The crowd gathered round her in
stantly, and beheld her standing the per-
feet image of despair, with her hands
grasping portion of her dress, with all
the tenacity Of vice. 1t was some time
before she could be rendered sufficiently
calm TO tell the cause of her alarm; and
then they gathered from her broken ex-
clamations that she was grasping the
head of a snake among the folds Of her
dress, and feared to let 60 her hold for
fear of receiving the fatal blow. This
intelligence caused many to shrink from
her, but most of the ladies, for their hon
or be it told, determined not to leave her
in her direful extremity.
They besought her not to relax her
hold. as her safety depended upon it, un-
til some one could be found with courage
enough to seize and remove the terrible
reptile. There was none of the ladies
however to perform the act, and the sit
ualion of Miss NJ. was becoming more
and more critical every moment. 1t was
evident that her strength was failing 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
determined that Mr. Tison. who was
present, should be called to their assis.
; lance. He was quickly on the spot, and
being a man of uncommon courage, he
: was not many minutes within the circle
= of weeping and halffainting females, un
: til he caught the tail of the snake and
wound it round his hand to make sure o
s his hold.
He then told Miss NJ, that she mus
i let 90 at the moment he jerked away
S and to make the act as instantaneous al
d possible, he would pronounce the words
: one, two, three, aRd at the moment h,
d pronounced The last word, hemust le
o 90 her hold, and he doubted not that h
o could Withdraw the snake before it woulC
y have time to strike. All stood in breath
e less horror, awaiting the act of life o
e death; and at the moment the word thre
e was pronounced, the doctor jerked out tn
l. largest and most diabolical looking hustle
Of that was ever seen on the Mississippi
ll The whole of the affair was then explair
TX ed The fastenings of the machine ha
te became loose during dancing, and it ha
shifted its. position in such way tha:
n tangled about the lsdy's limbs, and il
IN duced the belief that it was snake wit
l. ar enormous head.
The doctor fell right down in his track
r and fainted-he did.
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