Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-06-06
THE RAFTsMAN's JOURNAL,

A DESPERATE FIGHT WITH SNAKEs.--Mr.
Jas Lankford, of Fearing township. says the
Marietta Home Neacs. had q severe fight with
three enormous spotted black snakes, on Mon
day morning last. He had been repairing
barrow by the side of large tree, in one OF
his fields, when strange sensation passeu
over him, which paralyzed him to such an ex-
tent as to render him almost powerless. He
felt conscious that danger was approaching,
vet seemed unable to save himself. He heard
a rustlng noise on the tree beside him. ana
was partly aroused from his stupor by snake
six feet and four inches long and seven inches
in circumference, striking him on the back,
passing over his shoulders, around his body
and under his arms. A second snake imme-
diately coled itself around its body. Seeing
third approaching and aroused to despera-
tion, he seized an AK which he fortunately had
with him, and by lucky blow, severed it in
two, six inches back of its head. This one
was five feet and eight inches long. Mr.. Lank-
ford then turned his efforts to ridding himself
of his other two foes, then beginning to tight
en- themselves unpleasantly around his breast.
A severe contest ensued, lasting fifteen or
twenty minutes, during which Mr.. l.. was
thrown down several times. The reptiles kept
up constant Kissing noise, and emitted fe-
It'd, sickening odor. At length the largest
snake, in endeavoring to strike Mr.. L. in the
mouth, at which it made repeated efforts, was
seized by the back of the neck, between Mr..
Langford' s teeth, and literally crushed. The
snake instantly uncoiled, and threw itself from
him to the ground. hOrs du combat. The third
one did the same, and made his escape, Mr..
L.. being too much exhausted to make any at
tempt to pursue it. 1t was a narrow escape
for Mr.. L., who is farmer, and whose veraci-
ty is unquestioned. We had the narration
from his own lips.
A RAILROAD FEAT.-Mr. Haughlin, foreman
of the machine shops Of the Michigan Central
Railroad, accomplished feat at Michigan City
with the train carrying delegates to the Chica-
go Convention, which is well deserving of
mention. AT Michigan City it is necessary to
change engines, and in order not to lose time
the train was run up the track at the rate of
fifteen miles an hour, the engine then being
uncoupled and run at faster speed on to
siding. The switch was replaced in time, and
the cars dashed along up the main line to the
engine waiting to take it to Chicago. Moving
a. nearly the same speed as the cars, it was
coupled to the train, and plunged along with
its load. Uncouping and switching loco
motive, and coupling on another at fifteen
miles an hour, is certainly very remarkable
engineering accomplishment.
Lincoln and Hamlin together measure just
twelve feet five inches. Lincoln is six feet four
inches long and Hamlin is six feet one inch
long, but neither of these gentlemen have any
other measurement.-Indiana Sentinel.
The Sentinel tells us that Lincoln and Ham,
lin have no other measurement than their
length. 1t is evidently very proud of the shape
of it's favorite candidate, the Little Giant,
who has greater measurement than his length,
being about five feet long and eight feet, six
inches. and two barley corns round-to say
nothing of the measurement of corn and bar
ley insde.-LoH. Jour.