The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-10-03
Terrible Encounter with a Deadly
Blowing Viper in a Dark Room.

A terrible calamity befell DIR. Paul
hamus and his lovely and accomplished
daughter, Eleanor, Tuesday evening, In
Williamsburg, Penn. 1t seems that a
couple of weeks ago two tramps cap
tured a pair of enormous reptiles, which
the doctor pronounced to be OF that
deadly species known as blowing Vi
pers.." The doctor, having a desire to
contribute something that would com-
mend itself from this district, pur-
chased the reptiles, intending to for
ward them to the Geological Gardens in
Philadelphia. Biding their Transports
ton, the snakes were placed in a large
glass jar, the top being carefully secured
by a 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 a visit to the
country, and the doctor having occasion
to make up a prescription, they both
entered his Office, the doctor lighting a
lamp. And now comes the terrible de-
nouement. 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 direc-
ton. The bird seemed frantic, flying
and dashing in every direction, while a
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 a wild cry to his arms. In
the darkness he gathered his darling in
his arms, and in a moment realized 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
appearance. They seemed slow, but
scarcely five minutes elapsed until full
a dozen ladies and brave men were on
the spot. No living hand a indite
the horrors of the next few minutes
Miss Eleanor, 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
nerye-yet not ALL 1t was Thomas
Lutz's hand that seized the glitterine
reptile by the neck and choked its fear
full fangs apart. 1t had bitten the lady
midway between the ankle and the knee
She was now carried Immediately. tt
her home, where every known antidott
for poison was administered by he
frantic father, but all to no avail. She
died at half-past six o'clock this morn
ing. After taking the poor, unfortu
nate young lady home, one of the men
knowing there had been two snakes
returned to the Office and soon dis
patched the other. An examination
showed its two large fangs missing
This led to the conjecture that possibl.
the doctor had been bitten. A hast!
return and quick examination resulted
in finding the fangs in the thick leath
ers of the doctors boots, who, being 81
alarmed for his daughter, had not tn,
slightest knowledge of being struck
The corpse Of the young lady has swollel
to enormous dimensions, while her com
plexion is in harmony with the spot
and general %coloring Of the snake. TIL
larger of the snakes measured four an,
a half feet, the smaller four feet. The,
are pronounced by our old people tn
largest of the species. 1t was tn
shorter one of the two hat bit tn
young lady.