Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-06-18
THRILLING ENCOUNTER WITH A
DEN OF BLACK SNAKES.

The Boonsboro' Odd FslloW relates the
following adventure of Prof. J. Mitchell, of
that town:
Prof j. Mitchell, the celebrated "South
Mountain Wizard,n while out cunning last
Friday, had most thrilling adventure with
u den of black snakes, known as racers, from
which he narrowly escaped with his life.
AS is his habit, the Professor had taken his
iavorite carbine, and gone into the mountain
after squirrels The best part of the fore
noon had been spent in beating through the
brush and over the rocks without meeting
with any adventure, and but ordinary success
in procuring game, &c. Suddenly, how
ever, he came to ledge of rocks, about
mile from the South Mountain House. Stop
ping moment to take n survey of the sur.
roundings, he saw large black snake
stretched out on rock summing himself
He at once took up couple of stones and
threw one at his snakeship, but, uniortu-
nately, missed him This aroused the snake
and in an instant he uneoiled himself, and
stood with his head erect, as il indignant at
this intrusion-and at the same time gave
loud, shrill hiss, or, rather, whistle. The
Professor delivered his second stone with
such precision as TO mortally wound his
enemy. Nosooner, however, had he thrown
the stone, when he heard n fearful rustllng
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 monstrous black
snake Ga racer) coming directly toward him
with his head erected about five feet from
the ground, and his forked tongue darting
from his distended jaws, as if bent on fight.
The Professor, (whO is an acknowledged
crack shot,) Immediately raised his carbine,
Tired, and had the proud satisfaction OF seeing
the monster snake roll over in the agonies
OF death-haying split his head open with
the ball. This proved but the commence
ment OF the battle-for, before the Professor
had time to congratulate himself upon his
success in vanquishing two OF his foes, a
third one, measuring about seven feet in
length, and thick in proportion, had ap-
preached to within few feet of him-his
head erect-hissing, and darting his tongue
out in manner to appal 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 his carbine upon the
ground. With the rapidity of lightning, the
snake attacked the Professor, and winding
his Shiny coils around his legs and body
higher and tighter at every coil of his loath
some form, until the Professor was unable
to move foot. His efforts to extnoatt
himself IRON the "coils OF death'-as they
seemed to him--were unavailing, for will
every effort the fold tightened, and the worl
of respiration became difficult. Death ant
the snake stared him in the face, and mad
the cold chills of horror and agony creel
over his body. 1t was fearful moment
, moment of the most intense horror ant
agony, that made the flesh creep, the bloc,
chill, and the hair literally to "stand on en-,
l like quills upon fretlul porcupine." Moth
ing but his great presence of mind savet
him from strangulation and loathsom
r death. Recollecting that his hunting knit
hung by his side, he seized it, and with hi
r nerves braced by despair, drew it across tn
i body of the snake, severing it in two at on
a stroke. The coils reaxed-the snake drop
ped dead at his feet, and the professor wa
free again. BY this time he heard grea
r rustling in the bushes, and the dry bari
cracking in every direction, accompanied b,
I loud, shrill, angry Kisses and whistling, a
if the whole surrounding woods was file,
with snakes.
r Deeming discretion the better part of valol
he hastily grabbed lis his carbine, girthe,
j. his hunting-knile and beat precipitate &c
/ treat. The Professor was pursued by til
q black snakes for some distance, but being i
!. a hurry he had no time 10 look back an
count the numbers. He says that had the
come one at time he would not have re
treated; but to attack him by companies
brigades and divisions, was enough 10 frigh
II ten any man.
We have endeavored TO give the fact a
narrated. by the Professor himself. MI
= Mitchell is well known in this community
u and we have no reason 10 believe the fact
have been exaggerated. We have sine
been informed that this species of snake
. very plenty in the mountains, and have frC
quently been known 10 attack persons VIII
!. intruded in their dens.