The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-22
Snake Stories

''Curiously enough" said Mr.. Barry,
'that story of the Judges reminded me of
case that happened many years ago in
my district in India. did not see the oc-
currencc myself but u man who did told
ne about ii, and in fact the thing was per-
fcctly well known. 1t took place at q din
ncr party or social gathering of some kind.
lady sat down to the piano, and had just
begun TO play, when some one chanccd to
look at the leg Of tho music stool on
which she was seated, and perceived some
thing there. a closer inspection showed
that the moving object was Il snake, one OF
most ycnOmous Species 1t had been
closely coilcd round the spiral leg of the
stool; and when the poor lady unconscious
ly seated herself in its vicinity, il had been
disturbed, and Immediately began to move.
She was quickly warned of her great dan
ger, and urged to sit perfectly still, which
she very hcroicly did, not stirring hand or
foot, or ultcring cry 1t must have been
fearful trying ordeal for the poor thing,
as there was no telling what course Of nc
ton the snake might pursue. However, in
this case it never touched her at all; but
after curling round and round the music
stool for half minute or so, il dropped on
the floor, and was killed before it could cf-
feet its escape"
GLOW excessively unpleasant" said a
youth; one Of those, like myself, new to
Indian life and experiences. "Whv, the
horrid reptiles seem to meet you at every
tuml Is no place safe from thcnl?"
"Don't lie alarmed, my dear SIR replied
the doctor, easily; "lhc shakes are not so
frequently encountered alter all--the poi
sonOus ones at least. And though 1t is I'M
happily the case that thousands OF people,
chiefly natives, lose their lives by shakes,
there are at the same time nunbcrcss in
stances in which those who have been Bit
ten by the less dangerous species have re-
covered, and III fact suffered little or no un-
casincss There are plenty of harmless
snakes, bat you are not sure which arc
which for n time. The stories YOU have
been hcaling are what we may call "sprc-
ial cases.
Among the group that had formed on the
deck was an INDIAN chaplain, who had
been listening to all that had gone on, but
had not hitherto taken any active part in
it.
"1f you will allow nc, he now observed
81 will tell you very curious and mclan-
choly incident that happened on one occa-
sion in church where | was conducting
the service. The windows and doors were
of course all wide open. and through one of
those open doors cobra glidcd into the
church. / did not notice il myself, but
several Of the congregation did, and were
not unrcasonably much alarmed. The
bcadle, native, was fortunately on the
alert, and he managed to procure tulwar,
with which he cut OFF the creatures head
before it had time to do any mischief.
Tranquility was restored, and the service
proceeded to its close, when many Of the
congregation went to look ut the dead
snake as it lay hcadlcss on the ground.
Among them was man who, in his curl
osity TO examine the reptile put his foot on
the head and rolled it toward him; when
he instantly uttered loud exclamation
and drew his foot away. BY some means
or other he had contrivcd 10 set in action
the muscular apparatus attached to the poi
son fangs which had dartdcd violently for
ward and struck him Oh the foot. Allrem-
cdics were useless; in half an hour thc.poor
fellow was corpse, proving, with ven
gcancc, the awful virulance Of the cobra da
capcllo."
This was our last ancctl',tc II was get
ting late, darkness was setting in, and it
was about time when the judge, tho doc
tor and some Of the others were in the
habit of turning in for nightly rubber of
whist. An adjournment was made there
fore, by most of the party to the cabin, DIR.
Bcamish bringing up the rear with the
chaplain.
very curious incident that you have
just related, Mr.. Lane Ihcard him say,
as he dcccndcd the stairs; "I must really
make a note OF it,"
"fes," calmly replied tho chaplain,
'but nevertheless terribly true"