Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-09-27
Killed by a SERPENT.

A terrible calamity AefeH Doctor Pautha
mus and his lovely and accomplished
daughter, Tuesday evening, in Williams
burg, Pa. 1t seems that Il couple of weeks
ago two tramps captured a pair Of enol.
nous reptiles. which the Doctor pro
nounced to be of that deadly species known
as the "blowing viper"
The Doctor, having desire to contri-
butte something that would commend it.
self from this district, purchased the rep
tiles, intending to forward them to the
Geological Gardens in Philadelphia. Biding
their transported ton the snakes were placed
in a large glass jar. the top being carefully
secured by IA covering of wire gauze. The
jar was then placed on an elevated bracket
in a remote corner Of the Doctors office.
Last evening the Doctor and his daugh-
| ter were returning from visit to the
country, and the Doctor having. occasion
to make up prescription they both enter
And now comes the terrible denouement
A large owl swept in through the transom
above the door, and flew with the speed of
an arrow against the lamp, knocking it
over and scattering the oil and broken
glass in every direction. The bird seemed
frantic, flying and dashing in every direc-
ton, while a general crash of bottles. nd
glasses was heard on every side.
Meantime the Doctor had lit another
match, but just in time to receive his
daughter, who sprang with wild cry TO
his arms; in the darkness he gathered his
darling in his arms and in a moment real
lied the situation. The owl had dislodged
the jar from the bracket and the vipers
were at large. Speedily he CROPPED his way,
calling loudly for help, which, the hour
being late, was slow to put in an appear
ance. They seemed slow, but scarcely five
minutes elapsed until full dozen ladies
and brave men were Oh the spot. N living
hand can indite the horrors of the next
few minutes.
Miss Elearor, who had been insensible
since she sprang to her fathers arms, was
now being cared for by the ladies', when
one simultaneous shrek almost froze the
blood and paralyzed each nerve-yet not
all. 1t was Thomas LutZ's hand that
seized the glittetng reptile by the neck
and choked its fearful fangs apart. 1t had
bitten the lady midway between the ankle
and the knee. Sac was now carried i'm
mediately to her home, where every known
antidote for poison was administered by
her frantic father, but all to no avail. She
died at halt past SIX CniS morning.
After taking the poor, unfortunate
young lady home one of the men, knowing
there had been two snakes. returned to the
office and soon despatched the o, her. An
examination showed it's two large fangs
missing. This led to the conjecture that
possibly the Doctor had been bitten. A
hasty return and close examination result
ed in finding the fangs in the thick. leather
of the DOCTORS boots, who, being SO alarm
ed for his daughter, had not the slightest
knowledge of being struck.
The corpse of the young lady has swollen
to enormous dimensions, while her COM
plexion is in harmony with the spots and
general coloring of the snake. The larger
of the snakes measured four and a half,
the smaller four feet. They are pronounced
by our old people the largest of the species.
1t was the shorter one of the two that bit
the young lady.-Altoona Tribune. 'N