The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-01-07
From the Home Journal.
THE ERPENT 7 ia NJ E R.
ATALE OF THE SOUTH.

a L ALT Of III SUI II.
One day, towards the close OF the iashiona
bic season at one of the most celebrated of the
Virginia watering places, man, carrying
large box under his arm, made his appearance
IN the front yard Of the visitor. hotel. He was
tall and snewy in person, with the air and
depotment of foreigner. The steady gray
eve, and the rigid mould Of features, indicated
yrgor of will and energy of character. In
other respects there was nothing noteworthy
in his appearance or movements.
Having approached 10 within short distance
of the hotel, he deposited bis box upon the
ground, uncovered it, and took out large
rattlesnake, which he held in his hand, grasp
ing it tightly around lhe body about six inches
from the head, and fixing a steady gaze upon
its glittering eyes The reptile coied its body
around the arm Of the man, or writhed IN slow
wavv motions through the air, darting its
arrowy tongue with a sibiIant sound through
the half opened Jaws. 10 a few moments the
erect head dropped, the mouth closed, and the
subdued serpent lay motIonless in the hand o!
the operator, who, during the whole perior
nance, Stood erect and silent, in the position
ne had first taken.
A spectacle SO novel and exciting, attracted
at once the attention of the visitors at the
Springs. The ladies' crowded on the front
gallery OF the hotel, and the men and boys
gathered IN a dense circle around the myster
Gus stranger, to witness his 0erilous feat.
To convince the spectators that the exhbi-
ton was not deception, the performer drew
forth another large rattlesnake from his box,
placed blunt short stick upright IN It's mouth
so as 10 hold the faucrs apart, and then, lnSer-
ting another stick beneath the iangs, he pressed
them outwardly until their full length was
exposed to view. In this condition he carried
the reptile round the circle Of men and boys,
and through the crowd Of ladies', that all might
see it was vertable snake, armed with tang
and poison with which his experiments were
performed. This done, he returned to his first
position, placed the snake upon the ground, and
commenced kicking al it with great violence,
taking care, however, not TO strike il with his
foot. Quickly irrtated by the simulated as
sault, the snake threw itself into a coil, shook
its ratt!es, and seemed eager TO strike its assall
ant, who, leaning forward, seized and held II
up, writhing and Kissing, lin his grasp. He
looked steadily for a short time into his eyes,
when, as in the first experiment, the head
drooppd the passion subsidized, and the serpent
remained subdued and still in the hand OF the
tanner.
He next empiied upon the ground the con-
tents OF his box, consisting OF dozen or more
large, venomous looking rattIesnakes. The
reptile mass coilpd, or glided, Kissing and fierce,
al lis feet. He picked them up, one by one,
gazed intently, for a short time, into their eyes,
and then placed some of them in hls bosom
with their heads and necks protruding as from
den others he twined around his neck and
arms, and the rest he seized and held aloft in
bis hand The reptiles writhed and twisted
and coilrd as if tightening their hold upon the
person of the performer. Their eyes glittered,
and their tongues shot forth and back, like tiny
arrows, from their mouths. But The ominous
rates all were still, beokening that curiosity
aud not anger elected these reptile demonstIa-
tIons. The snake tanner, begirt with the serpen-
tine girdle, remained not only unharmed, but
aPrarently quite unconcerned. He had Iadia-
led tie mysterious spell Of the human eye upon
them, and man asserted his lordshp over the
most cunning Of all the beasts ofthe field
The report OF these wonderful feats having
spread through the neighborhood with the of
fer Of liberal price, by the performer, for live
yeromous snakes, of every description, lad
came N one morning to the Springs, bringing
large rattlesnake which he had just caught in
the neighboring mountains. The snake tanner
paid the Promised reward for it, and proceeded
at orce to subdue it in the presence OF nearly
all the visitors.
Having cautiously removed the lid of the box
10 which The sake was confined, and turned 1t
over upon one side, be withdrew lew steps