The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-11
WHAT JEALOUSY DID.
CHILD WITH THE BODY OF AN ADDER
AND THE HISS OF \ SERPENT.


AND TIE HISS OF \ SERPENT.
\ correspondent of the Chicago Times.
writing from Paw Paw, H., gives an ac-
count of one of the StrangeSt freaks of
nature ever recorded. He says:
About seven years ago Il family re-
moved from an eastern state to the town
ship of Paw Paw. in this DeKalb)
county. From appearances the family.
consisting of the parents and two chill
dren, lived III harmony. They had not
lived long in their new home when the
husbands sister arrived from the east
and took up her abode in their family.
She was fair, and in some way formed
the acquaintance of young and Jealous
minister then feeding a flock of lambs in
a neIghborIng city. Through her be-
Wltchlng manner and surprising lowell
ness of form and face he became appar-
emily deeply enamOred OF her 1t is al
legged, however, that he deceived the girl
and never intended matrimOny As a
natural consequence his actions created
great CONSERVATION among his flock. and
especially embarrassed his victim of mis-
placed confidence. So great was the ex-
cItement that the reverend gentleman
left Tor parts unknown. Though moth
ing transpired to show the guilt of the
unfortunate girl, she was often goaded
to madness by her sister with the con-
stant accusation of diSgracingth the family.
In revenge she went To her brother. who
often sympathiZed with her. and made
some false, startling and diSgraceful re-
velations rejecting on the character of
her sister (his wifel in connection with
the polluted pulpiteeT. BroOding over
his misery, he went into the hayfield.
He had not worked long. however. until
he discovered huge snake crawling in
the grass. Prompted by a spirit of re-
venge the irate husband picked il up.
Secreted ii in his pocket. and Immediately
went to the house. In the doorway he
met his innocent wife. who was utterly
unconscious of the great wrong that had
been perpetTated upon her Approach
ing her IN his rage, he put his left arm
around her neck and shoulders and with
his right hand drew from his pocket the
eYer-dcCurSed snake. which he abruptly
thrust into the bosom of her dress. Fran
tic with terror. she diSrObed as rapidly
as possible. but not until the serpent had
glided through all the acceSseS of the
clothing next to her person. This event
though momentary in its fulfllment was
an evil, the sad effect of which brands
an unfortunate creature during its exist
ence. Time passed rapidly away, until
childbirth revealed the ever to he re-
gretted incident. In the meantime the
innocent wife pleaded and clearly yproved
her innocence and wifely virtue. This
allaycd the anger of the husband. and
again united the heads Of the household.
The above are well authenticated facts
while the Times reporter witnessed the
following in person On back. out of
the way road. that crossed an eXpanSe ot
prairie, the Times correspondent dis
covered the house, consisting of apart
mentS built after the manner Of an up
right and l.. and standing at a consider.
able distance from the road. He stop
ped. and his knock at the door was re
sponded to by an intelligent looking
middle-aged woman. who invited him tC
come in and sit down. Everybody about
the house presented neat and hOmelikt
appearance. When he made known the
object of his visit he was led to a spacious
room, where. in a basket about sever
feet long and three feet wide and about
two feet high. lay the animated specimen
that combines in one body the human
and the ophidian. After removing the
WOODEN blankets that covered the form
it uttered prolonged hiss similar to that
of a snake. 1t is a male, nearly five
years of age. and is five feet seven inches
III length. Being unable to attain al
upright position. he crawls about similar
to reptiles. He is speechleSs, and make,
no uttersnce except to hiss. The head
is bald and spotted on the crown. The
mouth contains fangS. He is carnivor
ous. brcathes slow and can live a lon4
time without food. The body is perfec
in form. but spotted with black, Will,
4 the arms and lower limbs are like tn,
body of a snake. scaly. flexible and tape
to points. This horrible sight only prove
the truth of the adage, Truths stTang
er than fiction. All who have seen j
pronounce it one of the greatest living
CuTiOSitieS.