The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-08-13
Thrilling Encounter with Black
Snakes.


Prof. j. Mitchell, the celebrated South
Mountain Wizard, says the Beonsboro
(Md, } Odd Fellow, while out cunning last
Friday, had a most thrilling adventure
with den of black snakes, known as
racers, from which he narrowly escaped
with his life. As is his habit, the Pro-
fessor had taken his fayorite carbine and
gone into the mountain after squirrels.
Best part of the forenoon had been spent
in beating through the bush and over the
rocks without meeting with any adven-
ture, and but ordinary success in pro-
curing game, etc. Suddenly, however
he came to a ledge of rocks about a mile
from the South Mountain House.
Stopping q moment to take survey
of the surrounding, he saw large black
Isnake stretched out on rock summing
himself. he at once took up couple Of
stones and threw one at his snakeship,
but unfortunately missed him. This
aroused the snake, and in an instant he
uncoiled himself, and stood with his head
erect, as if indignant at this intrusion,
and at the same time he gave loud,
shrill hiss, or rather a whistle. The
Professor delivered his second stone with
such precision as to mortally wound his
enemy. No sooner. however, had he
thrown the stone than he heard arustling
among the brush to his left, and another
whistle louder and shriller than the first.
Turning his eye in the direction from
whence came the noise, he saw a mon
strous black snake Ga racer) coming d.
rectly towards him, with head erected
about FIVE feet from the ground, and his
forked tongue darting from his diaended
jaws as if bent on fight.
The Professor (who is an acknowledg-
ed crack shoD immediately raised his
carbine, fred and had the proud satisfac-
tien of seeing the monster snake roll
over in the agonies Of death-having
split his head open with a ball. This
proved but the commencement Of the bat
tie, for before the Professor had time to
congratulate himself upon his success in
yanquishing two Of his foes, third one,
measuring eleven feet in length, and
thick in proportion, had approached to
within few feet of him, his head erect,
kissing and darting his tongue cut in a
manner to appa, the stoutest heart. To
retreat was out of the question; fight
was the only alternative, and quick as
thought he leveled his carbine at the
snakes head, but, unfortunately, missed
it, at the same time dropping it (his car
bine) upon the ground. With the rapid
.ity of lightning the black snake attacked
the Professor, and commenced winding
his shiny coils around his legs and body
tighter and tighter at every coil of his
loathsome form, until the professor was
unable to move foot.
His efforts to extricate himself from
the "coiIs of death - as seemed to
be--Here unavailing, for with every eff
fort the folds tightened, and the work Of
respiration became difficult. Death and
the snake stared him in the face, and mad 9
the cold chills Of horror and agony creep
over his body. 1t was fearful moment
Ia moment Of the most intense horror
and agony, that made the flesh creep, the
blood chill, and the hair literally "stood
on end, like quills upon fretful porcu-
pine.p Nothing but his great presence
Of mind saved him from strangulation
and loathsome death. Recolleeting that
his hunting knife hung by his side, he
seized it, and, with his nerves braced by
despair, drew it across the body of the
snake, seyering it at stroke. The coils
relaxed, the snake dropped at his feet,
and the Professor was free again.
By this time he heard great rustling
in the bushes, and the dry bark cracking
in every direction, accompanied by loud,
shrill angry Kisses, and whistling, as if the
whole surrounding woods were filed with
snakes. DeemiDg discretion the better
part of yaler, he hastily grabbed up his
carbine, girthed his hunting knife and
beat precipitate retreat. The Profes-
sor was pursued by the black snakes fol
some distance, but being in a hurry hs
had no time to look back to count the
numbers. He says had they come one
at time he would not have retreated, bui
to attack him by companies, brigades and
divisions was enough to frighten any
man.