Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-09-27

Killed By Serpent.
TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH 4 DEADLY BLOWING
VIPER IN DARK ROOM.

|
TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH DEADLY BLOWING
| VIPER IN A DARK ROOM.
From the Altoona (Ps) Tribune, Sept. II
terrible calmity befel DIR. Paulhamus
| and his lovely and accomplished daughter
, Eleanor, Tuesday evening, in Williamsburgh,
Pa. 1t seems that couple of weeks ago two
tramps captured pair of enormous reptiles,
which the doctor pronounced to be of the
deadly species known as blowing viper"
The doctor. having desire TO contribute
something that would commend itself from
this district purchased the reptiles, intending
TO forward them to the Geological gardens in
Philadelphia. Biding their transportation
the snakes were place in large glass jar,
the top being carefully secured bya 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 daughter Were returning from visit to
the country, and the doctor having occasion
to make mp prescription they both entered the
office, he lighting II lamp. And now comes
the terrible denouement A large owl flew
IN through the transom above the door and
with the speed of an arrow struck the lamp,
knocking 1t over and scattering the oil and
broken glass in every direction. The bird
MAS frantic, flying and dashing in every di-
rcction, while general crash of bot
ties and glasses was heard on every side
Meantime the doctor had lit another match,
but just in time to receive his daughter, who
sprang with n wild cry to his arms in the
darkness he gathered his darling in his arms,
and in moment realized the situation. The
owl had dslodged the jar from the bracket,
and the vipers were at large. Speedily he
groped his way. calling loudly for help
which, the hour being late, was slow to put
in an appearance. They seemed slow, but
scarcely five minutes elapsed until full
dozen ladies AID brave men were on the spot
No living hand can indite the horrors OF the
few minutes. Miss Eleanor who had been
lnsensible since she sprang to her fathers |
arms was now being cared for by the ladies, |
when one simultaneous shriel: almost froze |
the blood and paralyzed each nerve-yet not |
all 1t was TnUlnns Lutzs hand that seized |
the glittering reptile by the neck and choked |
Its fearful iangs apart. 1t had bitten the |
lady midway between the ankle and the knee. |
She was now carried Immediately to her |
home, where every known antidote for poi
son was administered by her frantic fnther,
but all to no avail. She died at $50 this
After taking the poor unfortunate
lady home one of the men, knowing there
had been two snakes. returned to the office
and soon dispatched the other. An examina-
ton showed its two large fangs missing
l hia ieu " the Conjecture tnat posslbly the
docto had been bitten. A hasty return and
close examination resulted in finding the
angs in the thick feathers or the doctors
boots, who, being SO alarmed for his daugh-
Ter, had not the slightest knowledge of being
struck. The corpse of the young lady has
swollen to enormous dimensions, while her
complexion is in harmony with the spots and
general coloring of the snake The larger
If the snakes measured four and a half feet
he smaller four feet. They are pronounced
~ our old people the largest OF the species
t was the shorter one Of the two that bit the
-oung lady.