The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-07-13
From the Mississippi Journal.
A FrIghtful Snake story.

| The following incid-ntz was related 10 US tn
/ other day by one whose vrracity is unquestioned
and who was an eye witness of The fact. Ii i
more appalling than any we recolIect to have eve
read in the history OF those reptiles. ..
Some time last summer The inhabitants o! Man
chester, Mississippi, gave a barbecue, which wa
| attended by most Of the fashion and beauty of tn
town and surrounding country. 1t happened tina
among the guests there was young lady, Mis-
NJ. recently from one Of thr eastern cities, wht
was visit 10 her relations in the neghbor hooe
of The town.
Miss NJ. was gay and extremely fashiona bic
young lady, and withal possessed an uncommon
share OF spirit and courage, exec pit in matter o.
snakes, and Of those she had SO great a dread thai
she scarcely dared to walk any here, except in
the most lrrquented places, for fear OF epcounter.
ing 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
settled conviction Of her mind that she was deslin.
ed to fall victim TO the (angs Of ra,tlrsnake.-
The sequel will show how sooh her terrible pre-.
senmeni fulfilled.
towards the close Of the day, while scores Of
The larry ieet were keeping time in the dance to
lhe music, and the whole company we're in the
fuIl tide OF enjoyment, a scream was heard from
Miss NJ. followed by :he mos. agonizng cries for
help. The crowd "a thercd round her Instant y,
and bcheld her standing the perlec. Image of des
pair, with her hands grasping portion Of her
dress with all the tenacity Of a vice. ltwos some
time before she could be rendered sufficiently calm
to tell The cause OF her alarm and then they gath.
cred from her broken exclamation that she
graspng the head of a snake among the folds Of
her dress, and feared to let go herhod for fear Of
receiving the fatal blow. This intelligence caused
many 10 shrink from her; but most of the ladies,
Tor their honor be il told, determined not to leave
her in her dIreluI extremity.
They bcsought her not to relax her hold,
safety depended upon it, until some one could be
found with courage enough TO seize and remove
the terrible animal. There were none Of the Ia.
dies, however. 10 perform The act, and the si,ua.
tcn of Miss NJ. becoming more and more
critical every moment. II was evident that her
Strength was failing fast, and that she could no,
mnlntain her hold many minutes longer.
A hasty consultation among the camest OF the
ladies was held, when it was determined that Mr..
Tlson, who was present, should be called TO their
assistance. He was quickly on the spot, and be.
,ng man o! uncommon courage, he no,
many minutes within the circle Of weeping and
halt fanng (emsios until he caugh: the tail OF
the snake and wound it round his hand to make
sure OF his hold.
Ae then told Miss NJ. that she must let go at the
moment he jerked it away; and to make the act
as instantaneous possible, he would pronounce
the words one, two, three, and at the moalent he
pronounced the last word. she must let 60 her
hold, and he doubted not he could Withdraw the
snake before it would have time to strike. All
stood in breathless horror, awaiting the Of life
or death; and al the moment tho word three was
pronounced. the doctor jerked the largest and
most diaboIica looking hustle that was ever seen
in Mississippi. The whole affair was then ex.
planned. The fasrenings of the machine had be.
come loose during dancing, and it had shifted its
position in such way that it dangIed about the
adys limbs, and induced the belief that it was a
snake with an enormous head.
The doctor fell right down in his tracks, ard
IA led-he did.