Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-10-10

| A SNAKE FIeHT.-The capture OF
snake fifteen feet long, says the Richmond
( Djspatch. in Patrick County, Va, was
briefly mentioned in Yesterdays paper
The accoun, of it appears in The DanVilie
Register, and the responsibility OF The pa
per warrants US in copying II. A farmer
on Bulls Mountain had missed several
pigs. and sent his son oct 10 discover the
cause. The son, in letter 10 the Reg
lister, thus describes the battle
The old man sent me out to learn the
cause, thinking probably that the wild
Cats had taken to them, as they had done
before, there being few Cats in the
mountain. Therefore. took my rifle
and dog. and started out on search Tor the
intruder. and after travelling some mile
and a half upon the face of the mountain,
came to an old hollow Chestnut tree,
which The hogs used for shelter IN colo
and rainv wealher--while standing near
the old tree, | heard the squeallng OF a
pig about one hundred yards Jown the
mountain Instantly started, and when
reached the place from whence the
sound came, IsroPPed 10 Iislen--l heard
a noise in the dry leaves, | Immediately
looked in that direction and what did |
see {! Could il be snake no. II seem
ed too large. But it must be, for II had
the shape. There he lay. with about
one.haf of his body concealed between
two old logs, with part of his body lying
on one of The logs, and his head elevated
some two or three feet. He seemed TO
look me straight in the eyes, while his
tongue kept up continual vIbratory
motion, and his eyes seemed to Hash hre
There we were face to face, and he seem
ed to have peculiar effect on me, my
nerves were paralyzed, and could not
turn back, but kept continually approach
ing him as if drawn by some magic ioIce.
Let any one imagine themselves away on
mountain and under the influence OF
filthy snake-it is enough 10 make the
cold chils run over the strongest nerves.
[ was within about six or eight feet OF
him, standing with my eyes fastened on
his, and all at once, my dog, which had
followed me from home, commenced bar
king about SO yards from me, probably al
4 squirrel. No sooner than he heard the
noise he turned his head in the direction,
and the spell left me.-my mind flashed on
my rife for the first time while had been
standing before him. | presented my ri
fe, cooked it, and pulled the trigger, the
report followed. Being so much excited
took no aim, and consequently, only
slightly wounded him. He commenced
rolling and tumbling about, Kissing and
'allng in the most irlghdul manner,
which could have been heard at least one
hundred yards. My dog instantly rush
ID on him, only TO receive the death
stroke, for no sooner had he touched him,
han the monster thrust his poisoned teeth
INTO his neck he turned and fled bowling
as he ran, and started Tor home, but not TO
reach it. for he had received his death
blow. reloaded, and taking good aim
at his head, sent the ball through the
centre Of it. He rolled and ratified again,
out he soon began to expire, and in about
0ne half hour he was quite dead.
The snake is OH exhibition at E!ams- |
vile. in Patrick county, and is TO be stuff
ed and sent TO Washington TO the Patent
office.