The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-16
tFor the Dispatch.1
aneaktnx OF snakes.

II 80 80
MA ,a,e T&asc White, OF Farufngton, IN
a,s,a,,arI s nn,niy, Told me the following,
.,hsss, no had from, Mrs. Marks the mother
hy = former husband ol the celeb rated
,Seriwether Lewis, who frat plored The
MINER Missouri, the Rocky mountains, and
Oregon: -
cross the Blue Ridge aud when near the
smninit was arrested by tue spectacle, Of
two snak black and rattlesnake-in
the narrow road he was travelling. they
were in coil, with appraised heads, CARING
ont their tongues, and each intentiy gazing
ON the other. Suddenly the ratttesnake un.
coiletI and took to flight, but in an instant
fhetbfack snake pursued and caught MIN py
the meek. and quick as thought tWined
around him from head to tail, constructing
him NTH a force that made the bones crack
an1ibIy. Then he lay motionless for some
time. when, rs il he thought his prey was
dead. he began slowly to unwind. He had
about half completed this process Waen the
tail Of the rattiesnake gave slight culver;
AS speedily as before the black whipped
around him, gave another crushing huG,
breaking bones as before, and again ray
motionless, and for longer time. Then
more cautiously unwinding, he found the
ratt,espakc entirely dead, and began TO
swallow him, He had about hall compile
ted this operation when night began 70
z come. and Mr.. Lewis went on bis Way, not
wishing to be belated In the mountains.
IJnon his return both snakes had disap-
Your correspondent who describes the
snakes mode OF swallowing Is correct. a
few weeks ago a gentleman from FaSette
county, West Virginia, told me ne pau
seen such partial swallowing, ana that Inc
swallower moved up on the sWa'loWee. IN,
stesd OF taking him down as iazzaron J,
does his maccaroni-what one might eau
swallowing up. -,
When was a farmer, before the war, my
negroes were forbidden to kill black
snakes: but they always told me: that tos
Rible. said people must kill "sarpents"
and had evidence that was never obeyed
except when my presence could ENFORCE
the command. Once in my loW-grounds 1
WAS statipg my views on this matter TO
skentIcal oYerseer. A black snake that mad
RIM out from the corn into q hedge-row
suggested it. Whilst was talking falnt
ssaheak was heard. There" l said
I.that fellow has got mole or neid-mouse
pow.O With long stick we parted tne
grass Of the hedge-row, and, sure enough
the snake had the yarmint IN bis mouth.
Seeing is believing; and my overseer was
a case in point. He was converted at once:
7 never killed but one black snake, and
that was In this wise: was walking IN my
woods along a narrow path, hickory STICK
in hand, as usual-you see was jackson
nan. Suddenly jerked my head back
from what took to be dry spray from
tree, and at the same moment discovered II
was a black snake thrusting his tongue into
my face. In the disgust OF the moment
Tietchedv him wipe on the back OF his
neck and he dropped dead at my feet. Blu,
/ thought served him right for his mpu
lience; and he had been up that tree after
birds nest.
Some day may give you the views Of
the best local naturalist ever knew about
snakes charming birds and squirrels. 1t Is
a mistake; they don't charm.