Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-09-18
Killed by q Serpent.

4 terrible calamity hete Doctor Paulhamus
and bis lovely and accomplished daughter
Eleanor, Tuesday evening, in Williamsburg,
Pa. 1t seems that couple of weeks ago two
tramps captured pair of enormous reptiles,
which the Doctor pronounced to be of that deadly
species known as ''blowing viper.
The Doctor, having desire 10 contribute
something that would commend itself from this
district, purchased the, reptiles, INTENDING 70
forward them TO the Ioo!oglcal uardens III
Philadclphia. Biding their transportation the
snakes were placed in large glass jaV, the top
being carefully secured by coVerl1g o. wire
gauza. The Jar was then placed on at elevated
bracket in remote corner oil the DOCTOR y
Office.
Last evening the Doctor and his daughter
Wero returning from visit to the country, ana
tho Doctor having OCCASION to make up pre-
sc!ibtion they both entered his office, tao De
tor lighting lamp. Aud now comes the terri
bo denoucmebt. A large owl swept III tnron%.f
the transom above the door, and h9W With t!"
speed of an arrow against the lamp, knocEsEr
il over and scattering tho oil and broken gas
in eyery direction. The bird seemed t1aH:'c.
avipg and dashing in every direction, Will {;
general crash oil bottles aud glasses Was he&rd
on every side.
Meantime the Doctor had lit another match,
but lust 10 time to recaiye his daughter, WHH
sprang with wild cry TO bis arms; 10 the
darkness nc gathered his darling ID his arms
and in q moment rcailz;d the SITUATION. hc
owl had dislodgcd the jar from the DracEet
and the Vipcrs were at large. Spaoul'y II"
| groped bis way, calling loudly i0r holp, Which'
| the hour being late, was slow to nut IN "a a.
| cln
| i've minutes elapsed until taIl dOzna ladies'
and brave men were on the spo. NO i'7ihE
hand can inaito the horrors Of the next tew
| minutes -,
| Miss Eleanor, who had been lnsanslpl; sitc'
she snrapc to her fathers arms. was now bclnE
cared for by the ladies', when ooc simultaneous
shriek almost frtzs the blood aud paralyz'd
each perve-yet not all. 1t was Ihom:s
Lulz's hand that seized the glittcrlng reptile
by the neck and chokod its fearful isugs
ansrt. It had bitten the lady midway bttweun
the ankle and the knee. she vas now carried
Immediately to Der home, Whcro every kEoTr
antidote for poison was administered ny hct
| frantic father but all 10 no avail. Shc utca d
half past X thla morning.
After taking the poor unfortunate ynuns
LADY, home Que Of the men, knowing thrr'
had been two snakes. returned to the oi'l''
and soon despatched the other. An eE'm,n:'
ton showed its two largo longs missing. ih''
led to the conjecture that possibly tho doctor
had been bitten. A hasty return and c'o:'
examination resulted in finding, tho fans7 Ia
The thick feathers of the Doctors boots wn'
being 20 alarmed for his daughter, had not 'ho
slightest knowledge Of being struck.
The corpse Of the young LADY has s%'l!ch t'
enormous dmcnsi1as, while her compGx'oh y
| in harmony with the spots and genera oo'n'-
t ing of the snake. The larger OF the sn"hoS
measured four and nall. the smaller iour 'er''
They arc pronounced bV our oId peopo III,
largest Ct the species. 1t vas the shorter one
, of the two that bit the young lady.-AHoo"9
l n ,I,,,,o