Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-23
Thrilling Encounter with Black
bns ,1sttf sTes SnaIres. c+6iz dlll

Prof. j. MITCHELL the celebrated Ls South
Mountain Wizard" says the Boonsboro
(Md.) Odd Fellosv while out cunning last
Friday, had a most thrilling adventure
with a den of black snakes, known as
"racers, !" from which he narrowly escaped
with his life. AS is his habit, the Profess
sor had taken his faverite earbine and
gone into the mountain after squirrels.
Best part of the forenoon had been spent
in beating through the bush and over the
rocks without meeting with any adventure,
and but ordinary success in proeurin g
game, etc. Suddenly, however, he came
TO ledge OF rocks about mile from the
South Mountain House. m
Stopping moment to take survey of
the surroundings, he saw a large black
snake stretched out on rock summing hiia-
self. He at once took up q couple of stones
and threw one at his -snakeship, but unfor-
tunately missed him. 10 This aroused the
snake and in an instant he uncoiled him
sell, and stood with his head erect, as if i'm
dignant at this intrusion, and at the same
time he gave q loud, shrill hiss, or rather a
whistle The Pfofesso delivered his sec
orld stone with such precision as to mortal
lyiwound his enemy. No sooner, however,
hadsh thown the stone when he heard a
rusfling among the brush to his left, and
another whistle louder and shriller than
the first.H Turning his eye in the direction
from whence came the noise, he saw mon
ly towards him, with head erected about
five feet from the ground, and his forked
tongue darting from his distended jaws as
if bent on fight. & AS
The Professor (who is an acknowledged
crack shot) Immediately raised his carbine,
fired and had the proud satisfaction of see
ing the monster snake Ioll over in the ago.
nies of death-having split his head open
with 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 eleven feet in
length. and thick in proportion, had ap-
preached to within few feet of him, his
head erect kissing and darting his tongue
out in manner to appall the stoutest heart.
To retreat was out of the question; fight
was the only alternative, and quick as
thought he zlevelled his carbine at the
snakes head, but, unfortunately, missed it,
at the same time dropping it (his carbine)
upon the ground. With the rapidity of
lightning the black snake attacked the
Professor, and commenced winding his
slimy coils around his legs and body tight
er and tighter at every coil of his loath-
some form. until the Professor was unable
to move foot. ,--.t A. -
His efforts to extricate himself from the
'coils of death"-as they seemed to be-
were unavailing, tor with every effort the
folds tightened, andthe work of respiration
stared him in the face, and made the cold
chills of horror and agony creep over his
body. It was a fearful moment-a moment
of the most intense horror and agony, that
made the flesh creep, the blood chill, ard
the hair literally ''stood on end, like quills
upon a fretful porcupine." Nothing but
his great presence of mind saved him from
strangulation and loathsome death Re-
collecting 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 a stroke. The
coils relaxed, the snake dropped at his feet
and the Professor was free again.
By this time he heard a great rustling in
the bushes, and the dry bark cracking in
every direction, accompanied by loud,
shrill, angry hiss IS and whistling, as if the
whole surrounding woods were filled with
snakes. JDeeming discretion the better part
of valor, he hastily grabbed up his carbine,
girthed his hunting knife and beat a pre-
cipitate retreat. The Professor was pur-
sued by the black snakes for some distance,
but being in hurry he had no time to look
back and count the numbers. He says had
they come one at a time he would not have
retreated, but to attack him by companies.
brigades and divisions was enough to
frighten any man. 80 t-