The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-06
For the Dlspatch.i
TwA Snake Stories.

Messrs. Editors,-As snake stories seem
to be SO fashionable, ] will relate two in.
cidents from my own experience. You
may publish them il you see tit to 90 so.
The first happened about six years ago or
a Sunday in August. We (my fathers
family had nearly finished dinner wher
one OF the children, out near the dining
room Window,-we ate in the basement-ex
claimed, "Here's snake!" My father
having finished his dinner, went out TO SET
about it, and found, sure enough, agood
sized blacksnake. The snake, seeing hin
coming, started into hole under the outer
window.sil, and when he had gotten abou
half way in, father seized him by the tai
and tried 10 pull him back. Then the full
began, and the rest Of us left the table anC
went out to see il. Father pulled and the
snake pulled, and neither gained an inch
The strength OF the snake in maintaining Its
hold was surprising. The pulling was kept
up with undiminished vigor full five or six
minutes, and it is hard to say what would
have been the result had not the snakes
body parted within the skin, reducing its
diameter at that point to about that Of q
Irvine string. This break in the chain OF
affairs caused corresponding reduction in
his snakesbip's holding power, and be was
quickly drawn out and turned over to the
boys, who soon dispatched him.
The second happened about two years
after the other. We were sitting in
"nother's room" one evening about 8
O'Clock, when one If the children ran in
from the ball, exclaimiEg in great excite
ment, "There's big snake in the PASSAGE
Ordinarily snake out of doors is not very
dreadful affair; but the idea of having one
= in the house with you, and at night, too, is
calculated to produce some excitement. No
sooner was the alarm given than all hands
rushed into the ball, and there on the stairs,
almost directly under the hall-amp, was
huge blacksnake, apparently on his way
down. Seeing commotion, his snakeship
calmly drew up and put himself into an at
titude OF defiance. ANY one looking in at
that moment might have seen us (some
seven or eight In number) drawn I'D in line
OF battle along the middle Of the hall, con-
fronting the reptile, that had now moved
forward between the spokes Of the railing
until bis head projected over the edge OF
the step about six inches. .s~@.-
From the time our forces began to assem-
bic cries were heard, "Get q stick %
Where's the gum" sRun for something
to kili 1t With" Still, up to this time no
weapons had been procured and no proYi-
hlon 0aue LOT eXLermlnalluS tue uou' ~
Suddenly gIancing around, spied the door
bar, and, selling it, ] opened the contest py
making a vigorous thrust. which was lne !.
fectiye. At the same instant the snake . niau o;
such lupge forward that he lost MS equi-
librium and tumbled headlong rlSht lnto
the midst OF us. The excitement was now
at its height: the females shrieked wildly,
+ fouoht desperately, and the rest encour'
aged and cheered heartily; bat my weapon
MAS so obstinately straight that could only
strike the floor. beyond With the end OF it,
leaving the snake untouched. His snakeship
seemed TO he thrown into confusion by bis
late fall, SO he commenced o hasty retreat
towards the front door, all our forces fol-
lowing In hot pursuit. Finally, when ne
had nearly reached the door, we succeeded
in dealing q fatal blow, aud be succumbed,
not, however, until be had made some des.
perate strikes st us.
The conclusion we arrived at was that
this snake was the mate Of one that some OF
the boys had killed near the house 10 the
morning OF the same day, and that in search.
Ing for its companion 1t found its way into
the house. 3.
Our place has always been famous for
snakes, several very large ones having been
6 killed 10 oryery near the house. One copper.
head that we killed measured forty-three
inches In length. q, I. B. w