The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-05-08
Select Storp.
A NIGHT OF HORROR.

n NlOhl VI hO1lIbOIbs
Some years ago | was travelling through
Iowa, for the we'll known house of Scuy-
ler, Hartley and Graham, of Phladel-
phia, aud having business in Montgomery,
the County scat Of Powesheik County, |
engaged horse at Grinnel, the nearest
railroad town, for the purpose of carrying
me there.
Montgomery was distant some fourteen
miles aud being in no particular hurry, |
journeyed along quite lcisurely so that |
might feast my eyes upon the endless roll.
ing prairios, which were at this season Of
the year, (June,) clothed in wild flowers,
Of the most beautiful and variegated hues.
The sun had almost reached its meri-
dian and, judging from the distance | had
come, momentarily expected to see the
church spires Of the town loom into view,
when suddenly my horse, with mingled
snort Of terror and pain, reared up with
such violence as to almost unseat me.
lie then began prancing fearfuly, gazing
the meanwhile with terrified and distend.
ed eyes at the ground beneath his fore.
feet.
Casting my eyes in the same direction
beheld to my horror a large snake Of the
copperhend species, directly under the
horses hoofs, which had already tramplcd
the serpent into a shapeless and writhing
mass.
Dsmouuling, | examined the horse and
discovered that lac had been bitten on the
right fore leg. Patting the poor fellow,
succeeded in partially quieting his fears,
aud leading him away from the snake, the
sight of which appeared to cause all his
terror, | came to a cottage by the road
side, the proprietor of which, upon being
informed Of the accident, invited me into
the house, whilst he made the poor animal
as comfortable as the circumstances would
admit
Entering the cottage, | saw that every
thing was scrupulously clean, an appearance
Of neatness aud thrift peryading the whole
house and its surroundings. | had barely
time TO make these observations, when a
woman entered from the adjoining room
and bade me be seated. turned to thank
her, but started back in astonishment
when | saw her countenance. Words are
inadequate to describe her as she appeared
to me--such an utterly woebegoue, corpse
like face | hope never to see again it was
perfectly bloodess aud Of leaden hue,
the eyes being expressionless, while her
hair aud eyebrows were as white as the
driven snow, although did not Judge her
TO have been more than forty years Of
age.
Peroeiying that my gaze gave her pain,
| apotogized for my intrusion and accepted
the seat which she profiered me.
My son-iu-law informs me that your
horse has met with an accident said she
in a quiet, subdued tone, as she seated her.
self in chair opposite me.
ayes, ma a'am, replied |, "lle was bit
ten By 4 snake
| shall never forget the change which
came over her on the instant; she sprang
from her chair and frantically screamed,
whilst she shook my arm-''A snake
where ?" Her face, which moment be-
fore was so death lie, now became fairly
Illuminated, aud her eyes, hitherto so ut
terly void Of expression, actually flashed
as she 0xcitedly reiterated, "Whefe
where !" The next moment she had rush
cd from the house and down the road in
tho direction from which | had come,
wailing as she ran-"0h the cruel, cruel
snakes e.
To say that l was surprised aud aston
ished at this extraordinary scene but faint
ly expresses the true state of my feelings,
aud | raeked my brain 10 vain, seeking for
solution Of the mystery, The young
man, who had taken charge Of my horse,
entering shortly after, | Informed him Of
what had occurred aud requested him TO
explain, which he did by relating the fol.
lowing story
II was some eighteen years since Mr..
John Atkinson, who was a railroad build
er, had contract for grading a division
of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific r.
r., lying between the town Of Brooklyn
and Grinucll, and 10 order better to super
intend the work he determined to build
himself n small house or shanty of only
one room, intending to occupy it but tenn
porarily. He chose spot about equi.
distant from both stations, aud upon
large fiat rock, which he said would au-
swer admirable for a floor, he built his
house.
The next day he moved some furniture
into his new house, and fetching his young
wife and infant daughter from Grinnell,
where they were boarding, prepared to
make themselves as comfortable as posi-
bic in their limited quarters.
That night before retiring Mr. Atkinson
fastened the door and only shutter that
the shanty could boast, and, cxtioguishing
the light, jumped into bed -}
The young couple remained awake
longer time than was their custom, con.
versing upon their future prospects, when
John Atkinson, who was 10 the midst Of
new project for amassing wealth, was in
terrupted by his wife, Mary, Whispering
"llush, John Listen to the queer
sounds in the roomp
John obeyod and heard plainly pecu-
liar, rasping, crawling noise on the stone
floor, which sounded like nothing he had
ever heard before. HVb 2faf1WDg
81 wo6der what ii can bey' continued
Mary. Hkttt
q Il don't know, but III get up and light
the lamp and find out, replied JOhn,
cheerily.
Heaccordingly, throwing the bed clothes
aside, sprang to the floor, when, with a
scream OF mortal agony be cried
fsAlhighty God, Maryh Cover yonr-
self aud the child with the blankets. The
hpusef igt fnll Of rattlesnnkes, and I'm a
dead man " - 49, ie'ai Ct 1As3
The screams Of the unfortunate man as
reptile after reptile fastened It's fangs in |
his quivering flesh, we're terrible to hear,
and the hitsAg And milling Of the hofri- |
Die monsles q be vaialy fought them