Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-08-08
COMMUNICATED.
pic Nic at RInXWelps School
House,

Last Saturday Bristol party con-
sisting of Rev, j, II. Frazier, Mayor
Barker, DR.. VIM. Vance, JnO. f.. Bur-
son Esq, and the Editor Of the Nc3cs,
mounted their horses at the News
Office aud started for the Pic Mic, in
the valley of the South Fork, distant
ten miles. 1t was an inspiring, re-
freshiug dash through flashes of sun
shine and mountain shadow, through
cooling streams and dark defiles,
around mountain spurs and cultured
fields. Both rider and horse seemed
thrilled by the magnetic touch of the
crest leaves and the glorious bath Of
the country air, 1t was all poetry and
no tragedy until the party had reached
the very top of the mountain that lies
between the Paperville and the Blue
Spring roads, where the front horse
man cried out "Snake!" The effect
was u halt, but this was not effected
until those in rear had arrived OPP
posite his serpentship, which proved
To be viper Of large size, being near
three feet in length and Of lateral pro-
portions to match. half cOiled on the
bank with head spread to a degree
that meant business and located within
striking distance of the party. To add
to the excitement of the situation, the
road was too narrow to admit Of dOdg-
ing, the mountain very precipitous
below, the snake located about as high
as the pOmels of the saddles, the road
blocked by the sudden jam of all the
horses i'm heap and time allowed for
reflection singuiarly limited Brother
Frazier was in the middle aud could
neither advance nor retreat, but he
solved that problem promptly. Pois-
ing ms closed umbrella and taking
deliberate aim he made Il thrust at the
head of the viper and, as matter of
course, being ON horseback and under
sudden nervous emotion, you know he
missed it and then the snake leaped at
his throat, Really he did nothing of
the kind and the snake lost his OPP
pOrtunity, for the umbrella staff pass
ed through its head and i'm moment
Bro. Frazier had it dangling three
feet long from the end of his impro.
vised pike and triumphantly waving
about his head, prouder than Sitting
Bull with Clusters scalp in his belt,
exclaimed "the seed of the woman
shall bruise thy head" The surprise
was not ended. After few muscular
contortions that would have sbamed
the "Iudia-Tubber-man," the dying
viper commenced ojecting from his
mouth a large sized toad frog, Of
which his general appearance had not
excited the slightest suspicion in the
minds Of those who were party to his
death, The toad was alive and has
doubtless recovered. For this achieve
ment alone the party concluded to ID.
ID. Bro. Frazier.
Reaching Maxwelps School House
Mt noon, a large audience was found
assembled, and in a few moments our
party was called on for speeches,
which were made by the aforesaid
Bristol gentlemen, none Of them ox-
ceedng fifteen minutes in length, but
they were all of the regular order
excepting that of DIR, Vance, who be.
ing the last called on managed to
bring down the house upon the others,
There was very excellent singing
between the speeches. The locality
is decidedly pretty, smoothe and
well graded road winds around the
grayelled base of densely wooded
hill and leads suddenly intoa triangu-