Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-06-22
Thrilling Encounter with a Den of Black
Snakes in the South Mountain.

Mountain Wizard" while out cunning
las, Friday, had mos, thrilling adven-
iure with den of Black. Snakes, known
ss Racers, from which he narrowly es-
capped with his life. As is his habit. The
Professor had taken his fayorite Csrbine
and gone in:o the Mountain after squir-
rels. Best part of the forenoon bad been
spent beating through The brush and over
the rocks, without meeting with any sd-
venture, and but ordinary success in pro-
curing game, &c. Suddenly, however,
he came to ledge of rocks, sbou, mile
from the Soulh Mountain House. Stop
ping moment 10 take survey OF the
surroundings, he saw large Blsck.snake
stretched out on rock, summing himself.
lie al once took up couple of stones land
threw one al his snake.ship, but, uniortu.
na,eIy, missed him. This aroused the
Snake. and in an instant he had uncoled
himst II, AID stood with his head erect, as
if indignsn, a, this nnusion,-and al the
same time gave loud, shrIll hiss, or,
rather, whistle. The Professor delv-
cred his second stone with such precision
as to morally wound his enemy. No
sooner. however. had he thrown the stone
when lie heard fearful ruslling among
the brush 10 his left, and another whistle,
louder and shIiller than The fret. Turn
ing his eye in the direction from whence
came the noise. he saw monsirOus Black
Snake, Racer. coming directly toward
him, with his head erected about FIVE fee,
from the ground. and bis (orked tongue
darling from his ds,enled jaws, as if bent
on fight. The Professor, who is an ac-
knowledged crack shot. Immediately rails.
ed his Carbine, fired and had The proud
satslac.i ion OF seeing the monster Snake
roll over in the agonies Of dealh--haviny
split his head open with the ball. This
proved but The commencement OF the bat
,le-for, before the Professor had time to
congratulate himself uron his success IN
vanquishing two Of his Ioes, third one.
measuring about eleven feet IN leng gth, and
thick in proportion, had approached TO
within few feet Of him-hs head erect
-hissing. and darling his tongue out in a
manner 10 appal the stoulesl heart. To
retreat was out OF The question:; fight az
the only alternative and quick as ,ho't
! he leveed his CSrbine al The Snakes
head-but, unfortunately, missed it, at
The same time dropping it, (his Csrbine)
spon the ground. With the rapidly OF
| lightning, tie ck.Snake attacked the
Professor, and commenced winding his
shiny coils around his legs and body
higher and tighter at every coil Of his
lOaihsome form. until the Professor was
unable 10 move foot. His efforts to eX-
lricate himself from the "cOlls Of death,
as they seemed 10 him, were unavailng.
for with every effor, the folds nghlened.
and the work of respiration became diff
cult Death and the Snake stared him
in the face! and made the cold chills Of
horror and agony creep over his body. II
was fearful momen;--a moment OF the
The flesh creep, the blood chill, and the
hair literally to "sland on end like quilts
upon lreIlul porcupine." Nothing but
his great presence Of mind saved him
from siGangula,ion and los,hsome death!
Recollecling that his hunting knife hung
by his side, he seized il, and with his
nerves braced by despair, drew i, across
the boGy of the snake, severing il in two
at one stroke. The coils relaxed-,he
Snake dropped dead a, his feet, and the
Professor was free again. By this time
he heard great rusiling in the bushes.
and the dry bark cracking in every direc-
ton, accompanied by loud, shrill, angry
Kisses and whistling. as if the whole sur
rounding woods were filed with Snakes.
Deeming discretion the better par, of val
OIL, he hastily grabbed up his Carbine,
girlhed his hunling-knife. and bea, pre-
cipiiste retreat. The Professor was pur-
sued by the Black-Snskes for some dis,
tsnce, bu, belng in hurry he had no
time 10 look back and count the numbers.
He says that had they come one at a Time
he would not have rereated; but TO attack
him by companies, brigades and divisions
was enough to frighten any man.
We have endesvored 10 give the facts
as narrated by the Professor himself. Mr..
Mitchell is well known ih this conmuni
-iy, and we have no reason TO believe the
facts have been exaggerated. We have
since been informed that This species of
Snake is very plenty in the mountains.
and have frequently been known to attack
,o,sons v,ho iotradad into IN IN dane
Boonsboro', Nd Odd Feilow.
nMr. While. will you have the kind.