Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-07-31
&AisftlIaan.
THRILLING ENCOUNTER WITH
BLRCKSEAKES.

Prof J. Mitchell, the celebrated "South
Mountain Wizard, says the Boonsboro
(Md) odd FellolC, while cunning last
Friday, had a most thrilling adventure
with a den of blacksnakes, knownas era
GERS" from which he narrowly escaped
with his life. As is his habit, the Pro
fcssor had taken his fayorito carbine and
gone into the mountain after squirrls.-
Best part Of The forenoon had been spent
in beating through the bush and over
the rocks without any adventure, and
but ordinary success in procuring game,
etc Suddenly, however, he came to a
ledge Of rocks about a mile from the
South Mountain House.
Stopping a moment to take q survey
of the surroundings, he saw a large black
snake stretched out on a summing him
self. He at once took up O couple of
stones and threw one at his snakeship,
but unfortunately missed him. This
aroused the snake, end in an instant he
uncoiled himself, and stood with his
head erect, as if indignant at this intru-
sion, and at the same time he gave a loud,
shrill hiss, or rather whistle. The
Professor delivered his second stone with
such precision as to mortally wound his
enemy. No sooner, however, had he
thrown the stone when no heard a rust
ling among the brush to his left, and
another whistle louder and shriller than
the first. Turning his eye in the direc-
ton from whence came the noise, he saw
a monstrous blaoksnake "a racer) coming
directly towards him, with head erected
about Eve feet from the ground, and his
forked tongue darting from. his distend-
cd jaws as if bent on fight.
The Professor (who isan acknowledged
crack shot) Immediately raised his car
bine, fired aud had the proud satisfaction
Of seeing the monster snake roll over in
the agonics Of death-ha7ing split open
with a ball. This proved but the com
mencement Of the battle, for before the
Professor had time to congratulate him
self his success in yanquishing two of his
foes, a third one, measuring about eleven
feet in length, and thick in proportion,
had approached to within few feet Of
him, his head erect, kissing and darting
his tongue out in manner to Bppall the
stoutest heart. To retreat was out Of
the question a fight was the only alter
native, and quick as thought he levelled
his carbiue at the snakes head, but, IN
fortunately, missed it, at the same time
dropping it (his csrbine )upon the ground.
With the rapidity of lightning the black
snake attacked the Professor, and com
menced 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 a foot
His efforts to extricate himself from
the "ooils of death as they seemed to
be-were unavailing, for with every ef-
fort the folds frightened, and the work Of
respiration became difficult Death and
the snake stared him in the face, and
made the cold chills Of horror and agony
creep over him. It vas a fearful mo-
moment of the most intense
horror and agony, that made the flesh
creep, the chill, and the hair literally
''stood on end, ike quilIs upon a fretful
porcupine." Nothing but his great pre-
sonco Of mind saved him from strangula-
ton and loathsome death. Recollect- |
ing that his hunting knife hung by his
side, he seized it, and, with his nerves
5raood by despair, drew it across the
body Of the snake, sovoringit at a stroke. |
The coils relaxed, the snake dropped at
his feet, andthe Professor was free again. |
BY this time he heard a great rustIing !
in the bushes, and the dry bark crack |
ling in every direction, accompanied by |
loud, shrill, angry misses and whistling, |
rs if the whole surrounding woods were |
filed with snakes. Deeming discretion !
.he better part of valor, he hastily grab |
bed up his carbine, girthod his huating
Knife and beat a precipitate retreat. The
Professor was pursued by the black
snakes for some distance, but being in a
hurry he had no time to look back and
,ount the numbers. He says had they
,onae one at timo he would not have
,ctroatcd, but to attack him by compa-
lies, 5riga3es and divisions was enough
% trightcH any man.