Smyrna times., 1878-10-09
Killed by a Serpent.
TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER WITH TWO DEADLY BLOW
ING vIPERS IN A DARK ROOM.

A terrible calamity befel Doctor Paul
hamus and his lovely and accomplished
daughter Eleanor, Tuesday evening in
Williamsburg, Pa. 1t seems that couple
of weeks ago two tramps captured a pair
of enormous reptiles, which the doctor
pronounced to be Of that deadly species
known as "blowing-viper." The doctor,
having desire to contribute something
that would commend itself from this dis
| trict, purchased the reptiles, intending to
| forward them to the Geological Gardens in
Philadelphia. Biding their transportation
the snakes were placed in large glass jar
the top being carefully secured by cover
ing 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 up a prescription
they both entered his office, the doctor
lighting lamp. And now comes the terri
BILE 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 dashiug
IN every direction, while general crash
OF bottles 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 wild cry to
his arms in the wild darkness he gathered
j his darling in his arms, and in a moment
, realized the situation. The owl had dis
lodged 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 ap-
l IL.
five minutes elapsed until fully a dozen
ladies and brave men were on the spot
> No living hand can indite the horrors of
the next few minutes. Miss Elernor, who
4 had been insensible since she sprang into
! 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
Luiz's hand that seized the glittering rep
:, tile by the neck and choked its fearful
). fangs apart 1t had bitten the lady midway
. between the ankle and knee. She was now
;S carried Immediately to her home, where
i every known antidote for poison was ad
p" ministered by her frantic father, but all t
no avail. She died at $50 o'clock thi
= morning. After taking the young lad,
II home, one of the men, knowing there hat
- been two snakes returned to the Office anC
y soon dispatched the other. An examina
~ ton showed its two large fangs missing
- :. This led to the conjecture that possibly tn
=, doctor had been bitten. A hasty retur
~ and close examination resulted in findn
:. the fangs in the thick feathers of the dot
1 -, tors boots, who, being so alarmed for hi
~ daughter, had not the slightest knowledg
ls of being struck. The corpse Of the youn
~ lady has swollen to enormous dimension
~ while her complexion is in harmony wit
ha the spots and general coloring Of tn
~ snake. The larger of the snakes measure
os four and a.half feet, the smaller four fee
TO They are pronounced by our old people tn
largest of the species. 1t was the shortt
one of the two that bit the young lady,
ea Altoona Pa.) Tribune, Of the I'd inst.
The REACTIoN.-Horace White, of IL
~, Chicago Tribune, suggests that our pan
- came as a reaction after undue speculation
'io We realised on our real estate, spent IL
money, and now we are working to pay Il
as Is debt. When we have earned enough mo
than we spent to pay the debt. we W
work out Of our troubles. We had to 90
pre- the great waste, and so were compelled
rus over excite certain productive calling
vas Thus we awakened speculation. Let
bear the headache of the recovering
ner like men. One spree is enough for I'll
!S s generation. Ten years more may give
an another crop of fools, but let as not sw