Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-06-05
THE sen TIN Ell.
Remarkable Female Bravery.

From q reliable gentleman of Coopertown,
DR.. R. G. Glover, the Springfield (fenn.
Record obtains the following particulars On
Saturday, Mrs, Eliza Wilson, wife of Andrew
Wilson--who lives some four miles south OF
Coopertown-and daughter of r. Head Esq,
all of Robertson county, stepped outside the
yard into the edge of grove to get tooth
brush, and while in the act Of breaking twig
she felt something move about her foot. She
stopped forward TO see what it was when a
large spreading adder struck her in the breast
fastening his fangs in The bosom of her
dress. 1t then dropped, and to her horror
she found she was on the reptile, near IFS tail.
Her first impulse was 10 run, but she discov-
cred that the monster was himself coiliug
around her ankle. She stopped, and, with
great presence Of mind, seized the only oppor-
tune moment offered, that Of putting her left
foot upon his bead, which she did, thereby
fastening him securely TO the ground. There
she stood, ali alone, with one foot on the rep
tiles bead, while nearly his whole length
about three feet--was tightly wrapped around
her ankle. She screamed at the top Of her
voice. but there was no one near enough to
hear her or come to her relief Her husband
was in a distant field blowing, and it being no
later than O'Clock, and having failed to
make any of her neIghhors hear her-some of
whom lived within few hundred yards-she
stood in suspense--not knowing what to do
or how TO act. During her meditations thous-
ands of thoughts rushed across her mind, and
not knowing but She in all probability, was
bitten but after all, so far, she was victori-
Gus; thus encouraged she reso-ted to the only
alternative left-which was to unwrap him
with her hands. She commenced the loath-
some ordeal, the rusty monster writhing with
great force-unwiliing to quit his hold She
finally succeeded, but another crisis awaited
her. IL she let him 30 be would, perhaps re-
coil himselfaround her ankle before she could
dsengege her foot from his head and escape
II she took her foot off his head while she held
him with her hands he would, more than like
~, bite her before she could release bin and
escape. With the same presence Of mind and
undaunted courage that had fortified and saw
ed her thus far, she looked around and saw
that she was standing within few feet of a
small sapling, and, with heroic determination,
she resolved 10 sling bis head against it. She
made the effort and succeeded-which stunned
him so much that he had but little life remain
ing. She then took a stone and mashed his
head oif--and escaped unframed. She re-
ports his head as appearing as broad as her
two hands when he struck her in the bosom :
notwithstanding, she thinks she was not much
alarmed until after she got back into the yard
when she turned sick. She managed TO get
into the house and took dose OF nervous
stimulant, which relieved her. For several
hours after her hands and arms seemed to be
swollen aud of dark color-which made her
apprehensive that she was bitten but finding
not the least scratch on them she was soon
content.
To our certain knowledge we never be-
fore heard of q case where more courage and
true bravery were displayed by either male or
female.