The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-27
KILLED BY A SERPENT.
Terrible Encounter With Deadly Blowing
Viper I'm Dark Room.
From the Altoona pa Tribune.l

viper III 10 Dark IOonls
From the Altoona pa Trbune.l
A terrible calamity befel DIR. Paulha-
mus 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 district, purchased the reptiles,
intending to forward them to the Zoo
logical Garden in Philadelphia. Biding
their transportation the snakes were
placed in large glass jar, the top being
carefully secured by covering of wire
gauze. The jar was placed on an ele-
waited bracket in remote corner of the
doctors Office. Last evening the doc
tor and his daughter were returning
from a visit to the country, and, the
doctor having occasion to make up
prescription, they both entered his
Office, the doctor lighting a lamp. 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 bro
ken glass in every direction. The bird
seemed frantic, flying and dashing in
every direction, while a general crush
ing 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 sprung with a
wild cry into his arms. In the dark
ness he gathered his darling in his
arms, and in 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
dozen ladies and brave men were on
the spot. No living hand can indite
the horrors of the next few minutes.
Miss Eleanor, who had been insensible
since she sprung 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 glittering
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
to her home, where every known anti
dote for poison was administered by
her frantic father, but all to no avail.
She died at 6 80 o'clock this 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 dispatched the other.
An examination showed its two large
fangs missing. This led to the con-
lecture that possibly the doctor had
been bitten. A hasty return and close
examination resulted in finding the
fangs in the thick feathers of the doc
tors boots, who, being so alarmed for
his daughter, had not the slightest
knowledge of being struck. The corpse
of the young lady hass wollen to enor-
nous dimensions, while her complexion
is in harmony with the spots and gen.
eral coloring of the snake.