Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-08-14
Thrilling Encounter with Black Snakes,

Prot. >. Mitchell, the celebrated "Soutf
Mountain Wizard, says the BoonsborC
(Md;) Odd Felto,o, while out cunning re-
! Gently, ad most thrilling adventure with
a den of black snakes, known as racers, y
from which he narrowly escaped with his
life. As is his habit, the Professor had ta-
ken his favorite carbine and gone into the
mountain after squirrels. The best part of
the forenoon had been spent in beating
through the brush and over the rocks with
out meeting with any adventure, and but
ordinary success in procuring game. Sud-
denly, however, he came to ledge of rocks,
about a mile from the South Mountain
House. Stopping moment to take sur
vey OF the surroundings, 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
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
whistle, The Professor delivered his sec
ond stone with such precision as to mortally
wound his enemy. No sooner, however,
had he thrown the stone than he heard
rustling 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 monstrous
black snake Ia racer) coming directly to-
wards him, with 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,
fired. and had the proud satisfaction of see
ing the monster snake roll over in the ago.
uies of death-having his head split open
with the ball. This proved but the COM
mencement of the battle; before the Pro-
tessor had time to congratulate himself upon
his success in vanquishing two of his foes,
third one, measuring about eleven feet in
length, and thick in proportion, had ap-
preached to within a few feet of him, his
head erect, kissing and darting his tongue
out in a 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 snake
head, but, unfortunately, missed it. at the
same time dropping his carbine upon the
ground. With the rapidity of lightning
commenced winding his Shiny coils around
his legs and body, tighter and tighter at
every coil of his loathesome form, until the
Professor was unable to move foot.
His efforts to extricate himself from the |
''clils of death h''-as they seemed to be-
were unevailing, for with every effort the
folds tightened, and the work of respiration |
became difficult. Death and the snake |
stared him in the face, and made cold chills |
OF horror and agony creep over his body. |
Ii was fearful moment--a moment of the |
most intense horror and agony, that made |
the flesh creep, the blood chill, and the hair |
literally stand on end, like quills upon a |
fretful porcupine Nothing but his great |
presence of mind saved him from strangu-
ation and a loathesome DEATH Recollect-
ing 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,
severing it at stroke The coils relaxed,
the snake dropped at his feet, and the Pro
lessor was free again.
By this time he heard a great rustling in
,he bushes, and the dry bark cracking in
every direction, accompanied by loud, shrill,
angry Kisses and whistling as if the whole
woods were filled with snakes.
Deeming discretion the better part of valor,
ne hastily grabbed up his carbine, girthed
MS hunting knife, and beat a precipitate re-
,reat The Professor was pursued by the
black snakes for some distance, but being in
/ hurry he had no time to look back and
,oant the numbers He says that had they
,ome one at time he would not have re-
reated, but to attack him by companies,
,rigades and divisions, was enough to fright
IN any man.