Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-11
SUDDEN FRIGHT.
Remarkable illustrations of fits Eff
fleets ON the Nervous System.
From the Hartford Times.

geSteQ the IDEA OF nOtlng them down,
as interesting facts which will serve.to
indicate the power and effect of fear
on the nervous system. Other cases
occur to us as we write; and here are
one or two now before US, In Saturday s
and to-day's exchange papers. First,
take this little incident, in which death
from fright was only narrowly escaped:
1.-TWO women watching with corpse,
last Wednesday night, in Genesee, Il
hnois, were frightened nearly to death.
About II O'Clock, while they were quiet
ly munching their cake and slipping
their tea in the room with the body, it
rose, looked around the room, and re-
clined again. Those women got up,
and went over fences and across lots In
the wild frenzy of their fright. Ex-
animation showed the person to be
alive; but he died the next morning"
These women were to beexcused, GER
tainly; though it would have been no
more than an actof common courtesy to
remain and see what the deceased want
ed. But here is a case of practical
Joking, which occurred recently In this
city: A gentleman who Is the owner
of monkey, that was brought from
the Isthmus, took the creature to a
friends room to show him. 1t was
agreed to shut him temporarily inside
the dark cupboard or locker beneath
the wash-stand and water-cock, and
await the arrival of somebody else.
This was done, and very soon a third
person, friend of the two who were
waiting, came In. He was
warmly greeted, and the
question was asked of him
If he wouldn't like some whisky? Not
being a tetotaller, he replied that he
would like little. well, then, go to
the cupboard there (pointing), and
bring out the demijohn, and we'll have
some" He opened the cupboard door,
and simultaneously there came upon
him a piercing shrek fromthe shadowy
interior, and a hairy but human-look-
ing shape bounded out, with cleaning
eyes, as if to light upon him. 1t was
all the work of a fractional part of a
second. But that seeker after demi-
john then and there collapsed a fue. "
He fell back upon the carpet, with pal
lid face and rolling eyes, speechless.
but entirely willing to give up his
money if they would spare his life
Another case that happened IN this
city was that of man who, from GER
tain antenatal influences, had an In
born constitutional fear and horror of
a rat. Being a rough, devil-may-care
sort of fellow, some of his hilarious as
sociates thought they would test the
question of his rumored dread of rats.
One of them, provided with a huge
dead sewer rat which he held by the
tail, waited behind a corner while the
man was coming down stairs. Just as
he reached the door, the rat was swung
round against him. He dropped as
dead as a herring''-apparently. It
was found that the Joke had worked n
little too strong. The man had tainted,
and was with difficulty restored.
A parrot, owned in this city, and
whose singular greetings and exclama-
lions IN perfectly human tones have
sometimes so plainly indicated an
intelligent mind as to astound all be-
holders, was tested by the experiment
of showing him dead and stuffed par
rot. He was out of his cage, and on
the floor. The stuffed parrot was moved
up near him. He eyed it askance, and
gradually sided off. The stuffed parrot
was carried along, Just about 50 near
him. He moved faster. The stuffed
one moved faster-keeping close TO
him. Finally, finding that no effort Of
his could save him from the pursuit of
his ghostly enemy in feathers, and at
the moment when, after a protracte d
effort of hopping nimbly off had only
resulted In disclosing the defunct bird
right upon him, he suddenly ''keeled
over" lying fiat upon his back, and
holding up both feet, like hands in sup
plication, burst out into an unmistaka-
bic fit of crying 1t was real human
crying, too. The old fellow was fright
ened nearly to death.
Our concluding illustrations Doth of
which also occurred IN this immediate
vicinity refer to snakes. A man who
has no dread of these creatures (he Is
living here still had been in the coun-
try for some purpose, and caught live
snake and put it in his hat Bringing
it home, on the way he met a friend
whom he induced to remove the hat, on
the pretext that he had live bird there
concealed on top of his head. The
other cautiously lifted the hat on one
side and thrust IN his hand, into the
mans hair, when out darted the snake
down his wrist and along
his arm to his shoulder! With one wild
yell-a shrek like a locomotive-that
young man jumped straight up, higher
than he ever jumped before, and then
broke into run which would have
shamed jackson, the American
deer" He never looked behind him;
and he has had dreams, ever since, of
streaked snakes and anacondas.
A young woman who was picking
in lot about fifty rods
from her parents house-in the outer
part of the surburbs of this city-in
lifting up some extra large plants with
big leaves and big berries, disclosed
large CHASER" all closely coiled, and
with his head erect In the center of the
coils, eyes blazing, and tongue playing
ominOusly. This species of black
snake is marked by white ring about
its neck, and its astonishing swiftness.
1t can beat the fastest horse in run
ming. 1t has been known to strangle
infants and little children by its
constructive power when coiled around
the neck of its victim, but we never
heard of its attacking grown people,
though it will chase everybodywho runs.
The young woman in this case fed
aghast, running as she never ran be-
fore. When about half way home,
turning to look, she saw the hideous
creature close to her heels. She re-
doubled her efforts, and ran painting to
the house. Looking back, she saw the
reptile still at her heels-and bursting
into the back door, she fell upon the
hOor-having tainted. When discov-
cred, she was alone-the snake having
disappeared.
FLORIDA puts forward a claim TO the
possession of the champion Officeholder. A
L. -