Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-23
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A SNAKE EIGHT.

The capture Of a snake fifteen feet long.
in Patrick county, Virginia. appears in
the Danville Register. and the respecta.
bili:y of the paper warrants US in copying
it. "A farmer on Bulls mountain had
missed several pigs, and sent his son out
to discover the cause. Tho son. in let
ter to the Register, thus describes the
battle:'t.:'l - -.., ..-aslv .--,-.,- .a~
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. Therefore. took my rifle and
dog and started out on search for the in
truder, and after travelling some mile and
q half upon the face Of the moutain. /
came to an old hollow Chestnut thee, which
the hogs used for shelter in cold and raj
ny wealher-whilc standing near !he old
tree, L heard the;squealIng of a:pig about
one hundred yards down the mountain; l
instantly started. aud when l reached the
place from whence the sound came, l stop.
ped to listen-l heard noise in the dry
leaves, l Immediately looked in that dir
Fection and what did l see? Could it be a
snake? no, for it seemed too large. But
it must be. for it had the shape. There
concealed betwe. II two old logs. with part
Of, his body Ling on one OF the logs. and
his head elevated some two or three feet.
He.seemed to look me straightin the eyes.
while his tongue kept upa continual vi
bratory motion. and his eyes seemed to
fash fire. There we were face TO face,
and he seemed to have peculiar effect on
me. my nerves were paraly yzed and | coul1
not turn back, but kept continually ap.
preaching him as il drawn by some mag
ic force. Let any one imagine themselves
away on o mountain and under the inAu-
ence Of filthy snake-it is enough to
make 'tha cold chilis run over the strong
est nerves-I 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, com~
menced barking about SO yards from me,
probably at a squirrel. No sooner than
he heard the noise he turned his head in
the direction, and the spell left rae-my
mind flashed on my rifle for the first time
while Lhad been standing before him.
1presented my rife, cooked it and pulled
trigger; the report followed. Being SO
much excited, took no aim, and couse-
quently only slightly wounded him. He
commenced rolling and tumbling about,
Kissing and rafting in the most frightful
manner, which could have been heard at
least one hundred yards. My dog in
stantly rushed on him, only to receive the
death stroke, for no sooner had he touch
ed him, than the monster thrust his poi.
soned teeth into his neck; he turned and
fled bowling as he ran, and started fol
home. but not to reach it. for he had re.
ceived his death blow. I reloaded, and
taking good aim at his head, 1 sent the
ball through the centre of it. He rolled
and ratified again, bat he soon began tc
expire, and in about one half hour he wa
quite dead. a----. a.. ..a ". 90 ..-.7, >-.
The. snake is on exhibition at EIams,
Vile, in Patrick county. and is to be siuf
fedeand sent to Washington to the Paten
Office. En-. ..~ .,' I =. = ~ ... eva.