The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-08-04

black snakes at Gilmanton, New Hampshire.
The exhibition of these curiositics, il was
thought, would enrich the parents Of the
child. Within day or two, as if to follow
up the suggestions for the public benefit, it
was announced that Baruum had made ar.
rangements to show the snake -charner and
one Of the reptiles at his Museum in this
city Those who had eagerly swallowed the
snake story, and expressed sympathy for
the dear little creature that had surrendered
herself to the power Of snake, now began
to believe they had been humbugged. And,
to give the improbable story It's quetus, the
Boston Journal Of the 10Th inst, says:
"Thc recent case at Gilmanton, n. H.,
has not yet been carefully investigated by
scientific men, and the stories of those who
have seen the girl and the snake, and who
may have been deceived as to the degree Of
familiarity existing between them, should be
received with some distrust. We have a
letter from Gimanton, which we refrain
from publishing only because we do not
know the writer, although he furnishes his
name, which pronounces the sHdle story a
compete humJug. The writer says that the
snake has neither coiied itself about the
neck Of the child, or any part Of her, or per.
United to handle it even, except when assist.
ed by her father. The girl, he says, mani.
tests as much fear, to all appearance, as any
one OF her age and cdture would.
The snake is never taken out Of the box
and fed in the presence OF strangers; but
the girl says her father feeds it, for she is
afraid it will bite her. The writer thinks
the snake was captured while asleep in the
sunshine, and that Hill, the father is en-.
deavoring to tame ii in order to make Bar.
nun affair Of it. We give the statement Of
our correspondent ior*hat it is worth, sim.
ply remarking that It is by no means improJ.
able. The public may well be cautions how
it receives the stories Of interested parties
as TO tha snake affair Ii is reported that
Barnum has effected an engagement with
the girl and the snake, and We may expect
that the marvellous part Of the story viii be
wonderfully na.nlhed"
While upon this subject the JoQraaI gives
the following incidents illustrative of the
magnetic power Of the snake in case
which occurred in family in New llamp-
shire. They were narrated by Il Mr.. G. 4.
Bowen OF that state, who stated that they
are strictly true in every respect.
"The incidents occurred in the town Of
Danburry, \. H., some twenty years ago
An interesting little child, only four years Of
age, son of Mr. iayid Bal, of that place
used frequently to call for bread and milk
between its regular meals, and, when it was
given to him, would take his dish and 90 out
short distance from the house, sit down
upon large stone and eat H. Even at meal
times, instead Of sitting down at the table
with the rest Of the family, the child would
take his plate Of potato and butter and go
out 10 his rock and there finish hIs meal
alone. II his mother demonstrated and in.
sisted upon his sitting AZ the table, he Ould
cry pitcously, and at times utterly refuse to
eat anything THIS was regarded as . whim
OF the chlldS, and but little notice wa, taken
of it, and, being the baby, he was allowed
: to 'ru-r pretty much his own way. He was
hearty and rugged, had as much bread and
mix as he wanted, and during the dav usu-
ally played out Of doors by himself!
ing bis bread aud mix, Went Slr sfr t5-i, t5 i.,'s
stone to eat, but presently returned and ask
ed for another spoon. His father being
presnt, felt curious TO know how johnny
could eat with two spoons, and perhaps
thinking TO surprise and have a little fun
with his darling boy, quietly slipped out Of
the back door to the corner Of "a shed near
by, to watch him. The child seated himself
upon the rock, and without Offering to touch
his iavorite beverage, sat nearly minute in
silence; getting impatient, he called in u low
voice, "Pccl,lcd coat, pcchlcd coat. Come
back and get your dinner The moment
the child's voice was heard, large spcchlcd
adder crawled from beneath the stone, slow.
" raised himself upon the child's lap, and
/ there coIled itself nearly half up, and in n
moment was eating from the same dish with
| the child The child all the while talking
to the snake in its low, plaintive voice, every
now and then looking up as if fearful that
| some one might overhear him; pattlng him
with his little hand, calling him his little
"peckled coat the while, and urging him
to eat with the spoon, frequently telling him
/ to eat upon his own side of the dish; and
whenever this rule was deyiated from he got
gentle tap on the head with the spoon.
"The father looked until in his agony he
could look no longer; seizing a club he
sprung to destroy the snake. But he was
not quick enough, In moment the snake
was under the rock. The child walked qui-
city into the house without uttcring word,
and would not speak for some time. Twice
after this the boy was allowed to call the
snake out, but the father was unable to get
near enough to kill it. At last the child
was confined in the house. and the father,
by the assistance of others. pried up the
stone and killed tho reptile. The snake was
of the species known in that vicinity rs the
milk adder, was nearly three feet long and
between three and four inches round the
body.
"When the child learned the fate Of the
snake, its grief could not be described, and
was most painful to witness. For hours af
ter it would cry pitcously, 'Oh, father, you
killed my poor pccklcd coat : sobbing the
while as if its little heart was break ant
for weeks after this he would go and sit or
this stone and mournfully call for his pecklet
coat. 1t was with difficulty he could b'
made to eat anything, and for nearly three
months he continued to pine away, until hi
was reduced to mere skeleton. But hi
unnatural grief in time wore away He il
now a hale and hearty young man, anc
withal much rcspected by those who know