Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-03-13
A FrightfuI Snake story.

The following incident was related to us the
other day by one whose veracity was unquestioned,
and who was an eye witness of the fact. IL was
more appalling than any we recollect 10 have ever
read in the history Of these reptiles:
"Some time last summer, the inhabitants OF
Manchester, Mississippi, gave barbecue, which
was attended by most Of the fashion and beauty
Of the town and surrounding country. II happen
ed that among the guests there was young lady,
Miss NJ, recently from one Of the eastern cities,
who was on visit to her relations in the neigbor-
hood of the town. Miss NJ. was gay and ex-
tremely fashionable young lady, and withai pos
sessed an uncommon share Of spirit and courage.
except In the matter Of snakes--and Of these 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, 10 rid her Of
her childish fears. They haunted her continually,
until ut last II became the settled conviction Of her
mind that she was destined to fall victim TO the
fangs Of a rattlesnake. The sequel win show how
soon her 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, scream was heard from Miss
NJ. followed by the most agonizing cries for help.
The crowd gathered around her instantly, and be-
held her standing the perfect image Of despair,
with her hands graspng portion OF her dress with
the tenacity Of a vice. IL was some time before
she could be rendered sufficiently calm TO tell the
cause Of her alarm; and then they gathered from
her broken exclamation that she was grasping the
head of snake among the folds Of her dress, and
feared to let 20 her hold for fear Of receiving the
h,alblow. This intelligence caused many TO shrink
from her; but the most Of The ladies' to their honor
be Il told remained with her, determined not TO
leave her In her direful extremity.
They besought her not to relax her hold, as
safety depended upon 1t, until some one could be
found who had the courage 10 seize and remove
the terrible animal There were none ofthe ladies,
however, who had courage to perform the act and
the situation of Miss M. was becoming more and
more critical every moment, II was evident that
her strength was falling fast, and that she could
not maintain her hold many minutes longer.
A hasty consultation among the calmest Of the
ladies was held when 1t was determined that DR..
Tison, who was present, should be called to their
assistance. He was quickly on the spot, and being
a man Of uncommon courage, he was not many
minutes within the circle Of weeping and half
fanng females, until he bad caught the tail Of the
snake and wound u round his hand TO make sure
Of hi hold He then told Miss M, that she must let
20 at the moment he jerked II away, and, TO make
the act az instantaneous as possible, he told her he
would pronounce the words one, two, three, and
at the moment nc pronounced the last word she
must let 20 her hold, aud he doubted not that he
could withdraw the snake before Il could have time
10 strike All stood in breatbless horror, awaiting
the act Of life or death and at the moment the
word three was pronounced the doctor jerked out
the largest and most diaboical looking bustk chat
was ever seen In Mississippi The whole affair was
al once explained. The hstenings Of the machine
had become loose during the dancing, and II bad
shifted It's position in such way that i dangled
about the adys limbs, and induced the belief that
Il was a snake with an enormous head.
The doctor fell right down 10 his tracks, and
hinted--he did isNssippi Journal.