Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-17
snake story.

S'p''th, l:1S.-A..
the wonders have seen IN tbs land Aa',
raj wealth and water, sojou-n q, n Ut
health, happiness, AID other rur;,g
witnessed yesterday and TO-DAY o,.~
most passes comprehension ard MA
man arrived here a few DAYS aoo o.'''' !
through the mountains, tasIoo %a
about a dozen snakes, consi.,io, of Ia
lornia R.ttlesnske, the Virginia Il, EA,
and the Virginia Copperhead-anm 'aas.
getber in one box. as amicsbly as il rhaS t.
OF the same species or family. The 'H
mans name is G. +. Wir.en. and i. sfal'
rightly Informed, a Ssede hy sjr,b "isa
profession is now q "Snaks ciqrmsro 'u': :!
To prove that there was n, b,mnn
posture in this affair, be took I,o% "'s'
after some explanatory remark. '%i
dozen Of snakes kept together in VOC
partment, und;r a glass cover. with 90
able wooden shutter above. Ths.."
as | have said, are Of three ,s,,s,; D'IH
K ,ttlesnakes OF Virginia sud CsIifo,D,' ~
our most venomous Copperhead. i. y.
them out one by one with his n,kss"t
and put them IN a pile on the floor
they attempted 10 scatter in ysrlon. |
tons, but were restrained BY bis hand
waived at their heads. lie then ,oL Wy
up and doubled them in all sorts Of
putting them around bis head. f,r.
neck, and foaliy examining the Who'll -!
ing, crawling mass, into AGs bosom. ,,,, ;,
akin. 10 all this they showed po, tbs
est offence, not even ~rat:llng, but, on II. -.
trsry, seemed well pleased With the liz
he took with their snskey persons, and ~"
tied their satisfaction by pOking thei, ~.
ABOUT biz nose, eyes, and mouth. 10 ina
atfectlonate manner. Alter this s.,oni.1,.
demonstration, be piled then again u,.n"'
A)or, and stirred them ab,ur, and r,,, -,
them up like 50 many handkerchief, a.,
a bliss, or rattle, or blow, showed suy c,.o',,
sure at bis conduct.
Then, to show that no juggling Or iut,,.
ton was put upon Us, be took -ereral If -,
largest OF each kind, and opening IA,
mouths, protruding their tangs and .se, y
venom, carried them around the room an,
exhibited these dangerous q~ualiue. a. co..l,
ss bis audience would permit: bu, nl.r,,
close for all TO see that they we're %, n.
harmless creatures they seemed 10 be A.,
distance. lie also offered T. cause them ;,
strike and kill any small animal the ,r4.,,.
tors might present but tbr. was reutsrs
unnecessary, by several gentlemen dec,u,,
that they had seen il done at the Ss,s
SPRING., and other places. MlreJVe, b.
then took a box containing a perfectly st
rattlesnake, OF the Virginia species, csu,i
10 these mountains. and sold 10 bin by
negro at this place, not twelve hour. te,5,,
and emptied the savage creature, r,t.t,
and collIng, OF the floor, aud AIkiag y
everything presented TO it ~ tne no.i lUu.c,
style. Having ordered some music u h
played-Whlch be says IL the tr,t 80! o.
the least important step TO tr taken 10 .Vs
dung Its savage ten per to xii line, ., ..
said, be kept up his daliIauces BY sa.,.l
around il, and presenting his tjDt, Which 8
struck, on the sbUe, With u rIgat good -,
keeping up its rafting mean ShIe, nj %
flesh fairly creeped on our bones A r;
growing impatient waiting for the muse, Z
seized u chance and caught the sOase byte
tall, about ~one-quarter OF lis length trOu h
extremity, and began TO whistle 10 q loo
tone, the snske dong its best to bite sl ii
time, which be prevented by great dsI!e'iI
until he caught its eye, and 6X,d upon ia
most intense gaze | ever saw this be G..
tiuued for about half q minute, gbeI b.
whole c~ouDtenance broke into a smile--ffa
by some mysterious sign, (abIcb beuV
has never failed, that he bad conquered, 50!
the snake rds charmed! This he proved b
Immediately folding it in bis bosom ~.
around his neck, which it embraced nos
lovingly! By this, all skeptIcism war;
moved from his audience, and they gree!
his success with a round OF applause.
Having set out to relate thus far 10 ID,
OF truth, THE merit | clam fl
this, my first effort, | shall now close y
the whole truth. Mr.. Wlr-en hrG
last been bitten! But the charm is 20! Js
broken. He is determined TO conquer, 50.
will do it, as is plainly shown by BIZ sOu:g.
full nerve and force of will, and his ke'ct
fortitude under the painful sfi ctIOn. III
physicians, and all who see him, sag Ih&
never before had they imagined such cooID'"
calmness, aud power OF endurance, GOaa
like circumstances. lie was bIt,e0 ,ODeU
hours agc--siDce this writing besau-5Giii
is thought is in no great danger. lie
using q tsVori,e remedy, which be has oOt
before tested 10 his own case, fur ;b. s n'
time the mlshap hos oacurFed-4bEl
was occasion ed by bis accidentally, lo@
other case, | wesn,) piercing his ioget vi.
the fang Of q California RattlesnaEe, SoH
banding it carelessly. The recent sec'f'''
occurred in this wise: lie, YESTERDAY 'h
bic exhibition, engaged to "cbarw" 40 e1I'
nous Virginia Rlttlesnake- beIonglOa~ ~
young man 10 the bo~tel--perfectiy S"i 90.
vicious. This morning he attempted wi''
engagement, and, as before, vas d''y
in Obtaining musical belp at the u1'
appointed. lie began hIs msDlpuIauoo' "
all who saw 1t say, with 700 li;tIe c'n"'
patience, and 10 IN unguaried '"
by the snake 10 the JOINT OF toe lol''
Of the left hand--Jr, At least, So"F
manned Of it alter bis former acciiea'-
on that Ccca-ion be lost part OF tia! lsg
ber.-Corr Of Rich. Eeamusr.
A FIRST RATE FAUQCiER FAhAf"'
n SALE The subscriber ohef' to- :"
" MEDLEY" the present reslcencs ., Af ~.
-ll.- IT,. T. -. .,,,F-N ~ .IFl re-