Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-01
From the Reading Eagle.
Ina Den Of Rattlesnakes.
THE TERRIBLE ADVENTURE OF A SCHOOL
GIRL IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THE TERRIBLE ADVENTURE OF SCHOOL
GIRL IN THE MOUNTAINS.
A young lady in this city has received
the following letter from her friend who
is at boarding school, giving thrilling
account of her adventure with a huge
rattlcsnake:
DEAR MAGGIE: Three weeks ago yes
ter,lay afternoon, two young ladies be-
sides myself, who had gone out in 4
walking party with one of the teachers
of the school in this place, strolled of
from the rest OF the party, and, losing
our way, were unable for some time 10
tell where we were, As the woods and
Underwood were so thick that the fur
ther we penetrated into it the more diili-
cult our passage became. We wandered
TO and fro for a long time. until almost
overcome by fatigue, when we sat
down on huge boulder 10 recover
our lost strength Looking at our
watches we found that we had been on
the mountain nearly six hours, and iclt
hungry. distressed and tired. 1t was
about !, O'Clock in the afternoon. and
twilight was fast approaching. "Oh.
but for something to eat" my compan-
ion said, land then We could struggle
on and try and find the school again"
She appeared 10 be the picture Of des-
pair. We We're sitting some feet above
the ground alongside of huge oak
tree. and presently felt something
moving on my neck, | placed my hand
to my neck to remove it, when. hor-
rible TO relate, grasped something
round and soft. which hissed like an
adder. tried 10 pull it from my neck.
but it wrigglel and squirmed. and my
companion seeing the monster on my
body. shrieked and screamed and al
most tainted. Just at that moment the
head made dart at my breast, with
mouth wide open and tongue elongat-
ed, and kissing deathliko and horrible
sound. My left hand was about six in
ches from its head, and. in order 10 pre-
vent being bitten, | grasped it right be-
hind the eyes with my right hand. Hold
ing it in this way for several seconds, my
companion shrieked to me TO throw the
snake from me. tried to do so, but
was powerless, being. as it seemed TO me.
translixed or charmed 10 the spot by the
horrid eyes of the monster. | tried to
talk, but my jaws would not open. and
my tongue appeared stiff. | felt the
cold sweat trickling down my back, and
large drops of perspiration stood on my
forehead. My face was as white as the
driven snow. and could neither move
nor talk, but seemed to be as stiif as \
post. 1t makes me shudder as | write
to think OF the stare of the reptile.
Annie, my companion, seeing my
dangerous situation, screamed for help.
She seemed to be bereit of reason, for
instead of coming to my assistance She
started TO run away. Trying TO turn my
head TO see whittier she had gone, the
eyes of the snake Were also directed in
the direction in which Annie was Shrek
ing. From that moment the snakes
spell on me was broken. and with all my
might hurled it from me. No sooner
had the snake landed on the ground than
/ ran with the fieetness of the deer, fear
ing that il would overtake me. Judge
of my feelings when. almost out OF
breath and ready TO sink down to the
earth from sheer exhaustion, ! turned
around and found 4 snake with three
others several PAGES from me, in hot
pursuit. remembered that snakes were
afraid of anything red. Fortunately hav-
ing on a red skirt. Immediately exposed
it TO the reptiles view, and they at once
stopped the pursuit advanced towards
them, shaking my red skirt, and they re-
treated. gathered up stones and threw
at them and killed the largest one. and
the others escaped through the rocks.
Just at this moment 4 deputation from the
school, who had been in search OF us,
came up. The large snake that had
coiled itself around my neck was picked
up by the escort, and it measures nine
feet and four inches.