The Baltimore County union., 1867-07-13
Thrilling Encounter with q Don OF
Black Snakes

The Doonsboro' (Md.) OH HiioE relates ,h'
following adventure Of Professor J. Mitchell. q
that town
Prof Mitchell, the celebrated ''south Mountain
Wizard, while out cunning last Friday, had =
most brilliant adventure with n den Of Black
Snakes, known as Ilaesrs from which he narrowly
escaped with bis life. a. 10 his habit the Pro-
fessor had taken his iavOrilc carbine aud gone
into the Mountain after squirrels. Bssi pari Of
the forenoon had been spent Lcaling through the
brush aud over the rocks. without meeling with
any adventure, and but ordinary success 10 pro-
curing game, &c. Suddenly. however, be came 10
ledge Of rocks, about miie from the South
Mountain House. Stopping moment TO take q
survey OF the surroundings, he saw . large Black
Snake stretched out on q rock summing himself
lie %, once took up couple OfsiOnes aud threw
one NJ his snakeship, but, unfortunately, misssd
him. This aroused the snake, aud In al instant
he uncoiied himself aud stood with bis bead
erect, as u Indignant At lhis intrusion aud atthe
same time gave q loud shrill hiss, or rather .
whistle. The Professor delivered his second stone
with such precision as TO morially wound bis enc
my. No sooner, however. had be thrown the
stone when he heard fearful rusiling among the
brush 10 his left, and another whistle louder and
shriller than the frst.--Turniug his eye In the
direction from whence came the noise, be saw =
nonsirous black snake IL raccr) coming directly
toward him, with his bead erected about Eve feet
from bis distended jaws. - ifbcni on fghk The
Professor (who Is an Acknowledged crack shoi)
Immediately raised bis cafbine. hn,d, and had
the proud satisfaction of seeing the monster spAke
roll over in the agones Of death having split
his bead open with the ball. This proved but
the commencement Of the ba,iis--for, before the
Prof. had time go eongraiO Olair himself upon his
success IN vanquishiug two OF bis foes, n third
one, measuring abou; eleven Fee, In length. and
thick In proportion had approached to within .
few feet Of him-his head ereci-hissing. aud
daring his tongue out In n manner 90 appal the
stoutest heart To retreat was out of the ques.
ton . 6ghi was the only alternative aud quick
as thought be levclled his carbine a, the snakes
bead, but unfortunately. missed IL. and ai the
same time dropping !, This carbiDe) upon the
ground. With the raiiliiy or lightning the
black snake attacked the Professor. aud comnien-
Ted winding his Shiny coils around his legs aud
body-hisher and tighter a; every coil OF his
loathsone form, until the Professor ASS unable
10 move q foot. His Efforts 10 extract himself
from the "coil- Of death III. they seemed to
im,-were rnAyailing, tor with every seori the
folds frightened. and the work Of respiration Le-
came difficult. Death and the snake stArd him
in the face aud made the cold ehills ~ borEor
and agony creep over hiH body. II was farfal
moment- moment OF the most intense horror
and agony, that made the flesh creep. and blood
chill, aud the hair literally to stand on end
like quilts upon ffetiul ltorcunne. Nothing
but bis grea, presence OF mind saved him from
siraugulaiion aEd a loaihsome dea,h .-Recol-
lec,ing ;ha, biz hunting knife hung by his eide.
be seized H. aud with his nerves bracci hy dcs-
pair, drew II across the body OF the suake sfver-
log I, Ia two AZ one stroke The coils relaxed
the snake dropped dead AZ his feet, and the
professor was free again. iiy this tine he heard
great rustlipe in the bushes, aud the dry bark
cracking in every direction. accompanied b, loud.
shrill angry hisses and whisilng, as n the whole
surrounding wood was filled With snakes.
Deeming discretion the better par; of VAlor,
he hastily Rraspcd bis carbine pirih,i his hun
ting knife, and beata precipiiaie retreat. The
Professor was pursued by the black snakes foi
some distance but being 10 hurry he had ao
time 10 look back and count the numbers. H.
says that had they come one a; a time be would
not have retrcated bnt TO attack him By com
panies, brigades and divisions. wss eaough 60
friehieu any man.
We have endeavorcd 10 gives the facts as aar.
rated by the Professor himself. Mitchell i
well known 10 this community aud We have nc
reason TO believe the fats have been exaggerated
We have since been informed that this species o.
snake Is very plenty In the mountains, and hav'
frequently been known 60 attack persons who
intruded in their dens.